For the BJP, Assam has long been a cherished prize, and it has always seen itself to be in with a chance, given the State’s ethnic and communal fault lines. But the coming election in the State has more significance as it would test the party’s capacity to claim the terrain marked on its 2014 general election victory map.
The BJP secured seven Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 polls, and showed a spectacular rise in vote percentage from 12 in 2011 to 36 in 2014.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who won by a surprise handsome margin in his third term in 2011, has his main fight is with Prime Minister Narendra Modi rather than Union Minister for Sports Sarbananda Sonowal, the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate.
Here's what you need to know:
Important dates:
Phase 1 | Phase 2 | |
Date of Issue of Gazette Notification | March 11 | March 14 |
Last Date for Nominations | March 18 | March 22 |
Date for Scrutiny of Nominations | March 19 | March 24 |
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures | March 21 | March 26 |
Date of poll | April 4 | April 11 |
Counting | May 19 | May 19 |
Facilities for voters
In a bid to encourage more voters to exercise their franchise, the Election Commission has taken several measures.
* For the first time, EVMs will feature a symbol for NOTA. The symbol was created in association with the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
* The photographs of candidates will be printed along with their names and election symbol in the EVMs.
* The Commission will distribute voter slips bearing the photo of the elector with the details, including that of polling booth, his/her serial number in the electoral roll.
* Every polling station will be equipped with basic minimu facilities such as drinking water, toilets, shed and ramp.
* Model polling stations will be set up in select constituencies.
* Separate polling booths for women will be set-up, wherever possible.
* Differently-abled votes will be given priority in exercising their franchise.
* Auxillary polling stations will be set up inside Blind Schools and leprosy sanatorium.
* Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used in select constituencies.
* All critical events will be videographed.
(With inputs from Election Commission of India)
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