Repolling peaceful in all 5 dists, turnout 78%

Guwahati: Repolling was conducted for the first phase of panchayat elections in 44 polling stations across five districts of Assam on Sunday, without any reported untoward incident.
The Assam state election commission ordered fresh polls after violence and destruction of polling materials disrupted voting in several polling stations, particularly in the Barak Valley region of southern Assam, on Friday.
Repolling took place the highest number of 32 polling stations in Hailakandi district, followed by eight in Sribhumi district, both in Barak Valley. Additional repolling was held in two stations in Lakhimpur, and one each in Golaghat and Majuli districts.
According to district commissioners, voter turnout during repolling reached 78.1%. "The fresh poll of the 1st phase panchayat election, 2025 completed peacefully," the election commission stated in a press release on Sunday evening.
Voters turned out in large numbers at polling stations across upper and south Assam. The highest turnout of 88.16% was recorded in Majuli, followed by 85% in Golaghat. Lakhimpur recorded 79.16% turnout, while Sribhumi and Hailakandi districts reported 66.88% and 70.57%, respectively.
The first phase of the rural polls had earlier been held in 14 districts of Assam on Friday across upper, northern and southern Assam districts. According to data from district commissioners, an approximate polling percentage of 70.19% was recorded on Friday. However, turnout was even higher during the repolling on Sunday, as adequate police personnel were deployed to prevent hooligans from interfering with polling staff.
Senior election officials said the disruptions on Friday were mostly caused by hooligans in areas such as Barak Valley, though these were not considered organised crimes. Group fights and instances of hooligans prevailing upon some polling staff led to compromises with the polling process.
The damaging of polling materials, ballots and ballot boxes, and, in some cases, threats against polling staff, ultimately compelled authorities to announce repolling. Polling could not be completed in any of the polling stations where repolling had been announced.
The second and final phase of the election is scheduled to be held in central and lower Assam districts on May 7.