(Image source from: Can Congress retain Assam?})
As the country kicks off the first phase of its 16th Lok Sabha elections 2014 today in the Congress bastion of Assam across five constituencies, the important question in everybody's mind is can the grand old party retain its stronghold over the state this time as well.
Past election results indicate that except for the constituency of Tezpur that voted for Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in 2009, it was Congress that triumphed in all other constituencies of Kaliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur ( all of them go in to the polls today).
The Congress party, emerged as the biggest party in the state after 2009 elections, sending 7 MPs to the Lok Sabha.
According to the Lokniti, CSDS-IBN-National Election Tracker, despite the Modi mania in the rest of the country, Assam seems to be tightly holding on to its traditional Congress allegiance. Unlike elsewhere, the Congress is way ahead of opponents like BJP in the region, in terms of popularity.
The survey indicates that although Congresss preference has dropped by 44 percent, the party is still way ahead of its arch rivals BJP and AGP in the state.
With the popularity of regional outfit Asom Gana Parishad waning under the leadership of ex-chief minster Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and weak organizational structure of the BJP, bereft of any powerful leader, the stage is set for Congress to return to power.
Among the 51 candidates in fray are Union ministers Ranee Narah and Paban Singh Ghatowar, former Union minister and sitting MLA Bijoy Krishna Handique, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's son Gourav Gogoi and Bhupen Kumar Bora (Congress) and Congress rebel and ndependent candidate Moni Kumar Subba.
BJP nominees are unit president Sorbananda Sonowal and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa while Arun Kumar Sarma, Pradip Hazarika and Joseph Toppo are contesting for AGP.
People are turning out in large numbers at the polling booths in all the five constituencies. The state has registered 12 percent voting in the first two hours.
Meanwhile, technical glitches in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in a few polling booths in Kaliabor and Tezpur have delayed the process of voting in this area.
An estimated 6.4 electorates are expected to cast their votes across the constituencies of Tezpur, Jorhat, Kaliabor, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur today.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
