Voting in Assam was held on April 9, recording a turnout of 85.96 percent. Among the candidates, Congress fielded 99 candidates, followed by BJP with 90, AIUDF with 30, NDA ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) with 26 and Bodo People’s Front (BPF) with 11.
Other members of the opposition alliance include Raijor Dal contesting 13 seats, Assam Jatiya Parishad 10, CPI (M) three and Hill All Party Leaders Conference two. The leading candidates include Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi.
In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is hoping to unseat the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has been in power for two consecutive terms, while the BJP-led NDA is looking to expand its footprint in the state’s bipolar political landscape.
A defeat for the LDF would mark the first time since the 1960s that left parties are not in power in any Indian state. A total of 883 candidates contested the 140 seats of the Assembly.
Counting will be done at 140 centers in 43 locations, with 15,464 personnel deployed, including 140 returning officers, 1,340 additional officers, 4,208 micro observers, 4,208 counting supervisors and 5,563 counting assistants. Twenty-five companies of the central forces have been deployed along with the state police.
