Campaign for first phase of panchayat polls in Assam ends

GUWAHATI: Campaigning for the first phase of panchayat elections in Assam, scheduled on January 30, ended today.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi addressed several campaign meetings for Congress candidates in upper Assam's Dibrugarh district while Education and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed several party meetings in Nagaon district.

Asom Gana Parishad(AGP) president and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta also campaigned for the party in his assembly constituency of Baharampur in Nagaon district in last minute efforts to woo voters.

Altogether 28,680 candidates will contest the first phase of panchayat polls in eight districts of upper Assam.

643 candidates will contest for the post of Zilla Parishad member, 2,801 for Anchalik Panchayat member, 3,099 candidates for Gaon Panchayat president's post and 22,137 candidates filed their nominations for Gaon Panchayat membership.

In the first phase, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Golaghat, Kaliabor, Nagaon Sadar, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts will go to the hustings.

The counting of votes would take place on February 14 and February 15.

Assam government has declared paid holidays in all districts and sub-divisions during the three phase panchayat elections in the state.