EPIC will be used for the first time by Assam voter in LS polls 2014

GUWAHATI: For the first time voters in Assam will exercise franchise based on photo electoral rolls. Around 95.75 per cent of electorate is covered under the photo electoral rolls while around 93 per cent of the voters have Elector’s Photo Identity Card ( EPIC).

Assam will have three phases Lok Sabha polls. Five Upper Assam parliamentary constituencies will go to poll on April 7, while three Lok Sabha seats will poll on April 12. The remaining six seats will go to polls on April 24.

Some organization stoutly resisted the introduction of EPIC in the state as they feared that voter list had names of illegal immigrants and issuance of photo identity card will detrimental in the identification of illegal immigrants.

Chief Electoral Officer, Vijayendra said that at least 57.02 per cent of population of the state is voters. Total electorate in the state stood at 1.87 Crore. In last lok Sabha polls the number of electorate stood 1.74 Crore.

To conduct elections in 14 Lok Sabha seats spread across 24, 275 polling stations, Election commission will spend close to Rs 82 Crore and will engage manpower of 1.25 lakh employees.

Most of the political parties are satisfied with multi face elections, except Assam's regional party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). AGP stated the dates will affect the Rongali Bihu (agrarian festival celebrated in April), a major festival in the state.

AGP spokesman Manoj Saikia expressed unhappiness at the Lok Sabha poll dates, saying the dates will affect the Rongali Bihu, a major festival of Assam.

He said. "Rongali Bihu is like a month-long festival. As six constituencies will go to polls April 24, the Bihu festivities will be affected in those areas. The commission should have taken into consideration the sentiments of the people of Assam”.