Strong Turnout In Assam, West Bengal Bypolls 'Voting Largely Peaceful'

Polling remained largely peaceful in the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election in Assam and the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly bypolls in West Bengal on Tuesday, with turnout crossing 70 per cent in all three contests by 3 pm.

In Assam, an estimated 70.25 per cent of the 19.05 lakh electorate in Nagaon had cast their votes by 3 pm, officials said. Voting began at 7 am and is scheduled to continue until 5 pm.

Laharighat recorded the highest turnout at 74.74 per cent, while Nagaon-Batadraba registered the lowest at



61.92 per cent. Turnout was 67.82 per cent in Morigaon, 65 per cent in Raha, 72.04 per cent in Rupahihat, 71.79 per cent in Dhing, 72.38 per cent in Jagiroad and 73.46 per cent in Samagur. 

No untoward incident was reported from any of the eight assembly segments, officials said. Of the 2,312 polling stations, 624 were classified as sensitive.

The bypoll was necessitated after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and successfully contested the Dispur assembly election on a BJP ticket earlier this year.