By Bhupen Goswami
Guwahati : Voting was underway on Wednesday for the first phase of the panchayat polls across 16 districts in Assam amid tight security. Voters were seen queuing outside polling stations in the districts despite the morning chill. Polling started at 7 a.m. and will end at 3.30 p.m. Voting was underway in Tinsukia, Dibrugrah,Sivasagar, Charaideo, 
Jorhat, Majuli,Golaghat, Nagaon, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Morigaon, Kamrup (M) and Kamrup. Of 23,505 polling stations, 11,597 are comparatively safe, 8,243 sensitive and 3,665 are very sensitive. Apart from security personnel, 1,56,255 civil servants are also engaged in the election process. Total Seats : (First Phase) ZPC– 251 Anchalik Panchayat – 1304 Gaon Panchayat president – 1304 Gaon panchayat member – 13040 Altogether 734 candidates were declared elected unopposed, including 442 candidates for the first phase and 292 for the second phase in Assam Panchayat Polls, 2018 – according to the reports of Assam State Election Commission. Meanwhile Many voters were asked to wait outside the polling stations in Assam panchayat polls as their names were missing from the voter list. Due to faulty electoral rolls, many voters were sent back without casting their votes. Polling staff members said it was common problem they were dealing with since morning, because without name on the list which the state election commission had provided, voters could not be allowed to cast their votes. Despite the morning chill, older women have come by, shocked that they were not on the voter lists. They circled back and eventually gave up. Many polling stations have witnessed the same problem. “We are here for the past one hour waiting for confirmation from the polling staff as to whether we will be casting our votes” – said a deprived voter. Voting was underway on Wednesday for the first phase of the panchayat polls across 16 districts in Assam amid tight security. Polling started at 7 a.m. and will end at 3.30 p.m. Voting was underway this morning in Tinsukia, Dibrugrah,Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Majuli,Golaghat, Nagaon, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Morigaon, Kamrup (M) and Kamrup.
