The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is set to retain Assam, heading for a comfortable majority in the northeastern state. "It is a victory of development over appeasement," said Assam Health Minister and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma over the party's performance in the northeastern state.Counting of votes for the assembly elections in the state is underway with strict adherence to health protocols as it is taking place amid a raging second wave of COVID-19. An average 82.04 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the elections to 126 assembly constituencies in Assam.
A three-tier security apparatus has also been arranged at the 331 counting halls across Assam that voted in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6, Election Commission officials said.
At least 15 rounds of sanitisation will be carried out at each polling centre, besides social distancing and other precautions, including a ban on gatherings, will be strictly followed, officials said.
Here are the updates on Assam Election Results 2021:
#AssamElections2021 | "People have blessed us. We can say for sure that the BJP will form government in Assam. We are coming back to power with our partners AGP and UPPL," Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
NDTV's Ratnadip Chaudhury and Rohit Wellington report pic.twitter.com/E3ISGbhW9i
#AssamElectionResults2021 | BJP Set To Retain Assam
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Read more: https://t.co/JoI0SU9Jyh pic.twitter.com/rG7iuCrYGV
#AssamElections2021 | "It is a victory of development over appeasement," said Assam Health Minister and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma over the party's performance in the northeastern state#AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/WiwbXukp2U
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
With the ruling BJP-led alliance in Assam set to form the government for the second consecutive term, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the assembly poll has broken the "jinx" that minorities do not vote for the BJP as it has received huge support in the Muslim dominated areas and constituencies.
He hoped that in the second term of governance, Assam will, along with the entire north eastern region, emerge as a leading player in the post-COVID economy and growth for not only the north east but of the whole of India.
Assam Election trends at 8:02 pm. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/LAZtosIz9T
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
"People have decisively voted for the BJP. They have rejected the politics of polarisation. The opposition alliance had no concrete plan for the state nor any work to talk about. Their sole agenda was to polarise the vote, and the people of Assam saw through it, and voted for progress and development. We are happy for the decisive victory under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and will continue to work hard to take Assam forward on the path to progress," said Himanta Biswa Sarma.
"This is a great victory. It is a victory of development over appeasement. The people have chosen development," said Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Election trends at 6:30 pm. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/fh9wpatKx3
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Assam Election trends at 5:56 pm. https://t.co/QZmvOvcfGE #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/4zHXsDdhmB
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
The Election Commission has urged all states and Union Territories to ensure that no victory processions are held by political parties as leads indicated winners in five states."
At a glance: The 3 heavyweight candidates who are battling it out in the high-stake #AssamAssemblyPolls
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
More here: https://t.co/0CnuNeicvc pic.twitter.com/jy946L8ERC
Assam: Bharatiya Janata Praty (BJP) workers celebrate by distributing sweets at party office in Guwahati, as official trends show BJP leading in 57 seats. pic.twitter.com/Eh32Irc8Io
- ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2021
"Pro-people policies of Narendra Modi led government and state governments under Sarbananda Sonowal once again helped BJP in winning assembly elections in Assam": Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted as he congratulated the BJP for "victory in Assam"
#AssamAssemblyPolls | BJP led alliance all set to form the next government.#AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/D63EEsnO3A
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Assam Election trends at 2:30 pm. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/tQw2HnQ2qY
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Assam Election trends at 1:59 pm. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/XD4lJ1VKlZ
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Voting for these elections took place in three phases between March 27 and April 1.
The ruling BJP-led NDA is surging ahead of the Grand Alliance spearheaded by the Congress in Assam, leading in 77 of the 119 seats, trends available on the Election Commission website at 12.15 pm showed."
Assam Election trends at 12:42 pm. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/joZ7081E5s
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Assam Election trends at 12:12 pm. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/O44Ib5CYwm
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
#ElectionResults | Early forecast at this time (11 am) from NDTV Election Desk.
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
▶️West Bengal
Trinamool 190+
BJP 90+
▶️Assam
BJP 90+
Congress 35+
▶️Kerala
LDF 90
UDF45
▶️Tamil Nadu
DMK 140+
AIADMK 80+
"As per the trends, it is clear that Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in Assam," said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
Assam Election trends at 11:11 am. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/b38Yrla8yK
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
The opposition DMK-Congress alliance has crossed the halfway mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly." itemprop="description
Assam Election trends at 10:55 am. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/e9sBM0UzfF
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Jailed activist Akhil Gogoi is leading in Sibsagar and Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading in Jalukbari constituency.
The BJP has crossed the half-way mark in early leads, ahead of its nearest rival Congress, which campaigned hard to reclaim its one-time bastion in Assam.
#ElectionResults | A look at how key candidates are faring in their constituencies in Assam #AssamAssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/qeO3ZROyYZ
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Assam Election trends at 10:16 am. https://t.co/QZmvOuUEi4 #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/CJ14FiTsaL
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
The counting of votes in the Assam polls has commenced and early trends have started to pour in showing Bharatiya Janata Party leading on six seats while Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is leading on two seats.
Meanwhile, Congress and Bodoland Peoples Front are leading on one seat each.
The election schedule spread across four states and one Union Territory began on March 27 and continued till April 29.
An unused EVM was found inside a trunk at the counting centre premises here on Saturday
Official trends for #AssemblyElections2021 | BJP leading on 6 seats, its ally Asom Gana Parishad on 2. Congress leading on 2 pic.twitter.com/PEkMu6KutW
- ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2021
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal leading in Majuli. Leader of opposition in Assam and Congress candidate Debabrata Saikia trailing in Nazira, show early trends.
#ElectionResults | "Assam and Bengal will be going to BJP, there is no doubt about that": PKD Nambiar, political analyst#AssamPolls | #WestBengalElections pic.twitter.com/6KBct7ShZp
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 2, 2021
Official trends for #AssamAssemblyElections2021 | Congress leading on 1 seat. pic.twitter.com/g1Ubj4KHDl
- ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2021
In Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking a second term after a thumping win in the 2016 elections where the party ended Tarun Gogoi-led Congress' 15-year rule, when it won 86 out of 126 seats.
The main contest is between the alliances led by the BJP and Congress.
The BJP-led led alliance also includes the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL).
The Congress has stitched a broad alliance called the Mahajot which includes All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, the Anchalik Gana Marcha (AGM) and the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF).
Jailed activist Akhil Gogoi''s Raijor Dal has stitched an alliance with Assam Jatiya Parishad.
As the counting of votes for the Assembly elections began in the four states- Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Union Territory of Puducherry on Sunday, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that whoever wins such victories are pyrrhic as saving lives in this unprecedented time when the country is rattled with second wave of COVID-19 is important.
"On today's election results: Whoever wins such victories are pyrrhic. Today what matters is: Saving lives," former Union Minister tweeted.
The counting of votes began at 8 am today for the high-stakes assembly polls in four states- Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the union territory of Puducherry adhering to COVID-19 protocols.
BJP is leading in Assam, the early trends show as votes are being counted for state elections held amid a huge Covid surge.. Meanwhile, in Bengal, the BJP and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool are locked in a close fight, DMK has made gains in Tamil Nadu and in Kerala, LDF and UDF are neck and neck.
Prominent contestants in Assam include Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Asom Gana Parishad chief Atul Bora, and senior Congress leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Debabrata Saikia.
Counting of votes for Assembly Elections 2021 begins. Votes being counted across Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Counting of votes for #AssamAssemblyPolls to be held at two locations in Dibrugarh, at Dibrugarh Govt Boys Higher Secondary School and Deputy Commissioner Office, Dibrugarh.
- ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2021
Visuals from both locations as counting to begin at 8 am.#AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/UXX0CNAtBp
The Assam government on Friday extended the night curfew till May 7, following a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.
All shops and market places will close by 6 pm, though pharmacies, hospitals, animal care centres and veterinary clinics may operate without restrictions, being providers of essential services, according to an official order by Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah.
"I am hopeful that the people will continue to show their love and support the government at all times," Mr Sonowal said.
Various exit polls have also predicated that BJP will retain power in the state.
COVID-19 cases, the Assam government on Friday banned victory rallies across the state on May 2, when Assembly election results will be declared. The government has also extended the night curfew across the state till May 7.
"Any victory procession or assembly at any public place during and after the counting on 02.05.2021 is prohibited," the notification released by the government said.
It has specified that winning candidate will only be accompanied by two persons while the cracking of fire crackers and usage of loud speakers has been prohibited.
The BJP, project exit polls, is set to retain power in Assam by winning 73 of 126 seats. Exit polls, however, often get it wrong
Assam: Counting of votes for #AssemblyElections2021 to be held today. Visuals from outside a counting centre at Maniram Dewan Trade Centre in Guwahati. pic.twitter.com/J87eLC1JPi
- ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2021
In Assam the BJP is looking for a second straight term and has allied with the Asom Gana Parishad and the UPPL (United People's Party Liberal) to secure the state. The Congress campaigned hard to reclaim its one-time bastion. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are two of the biggest names on the ballot.
The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes on May 2 for the Assam assembly polls by putting in place measures to ensure strict adherence to health protocols, as it is taking place amid a raging second wave of COVID-19, an official said on Saturday.
Considering the fact that coronavirus infection is raging in the state, steps have been taken to ensure that Covid guidelines are strictly followed during the counting.