The Times of India               19.06.2013

Guwahati Municipal Corporation polls to be held today after 10 years

GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) goes to polls on Wednesday after 10 years.

The last GMC election was held in 2003, but the elected corporation was dissolved in May, 2008 after several elected members resigned just a few months before the completion of their five-year term. Since then, the municipality has been functioning without elected representatives.

All political parties are keeping their fingers crossed as over 7 lakh voters will give their mandate on Wednesday. Counting will be held on Monday.

Voting will take place in 862 polling stations from 7am to 4pm on Wednesday. The election will decide the fate of 172 candidates for the posts of 31 ward councillors and 356 contestants for 90 area sabha representatives.

Congress, BJP and AGP have fielded candidates for all the 31 ward councillors and 90 area sabha representatives. AIUDF, which is the largest opposition party in the state assembly, is contesting the GMC polls for the first time and has fielded candidates for the posts of 15 ward councillors and 23 area sabha representatives.

Waterlogging, drinking water crisis, improvement of road condition and street lights, better security for the denizens and land rights are the key issues this election.

All poll officials reached their respective polling stations on Tuesday evening, said an official of Kamrup (Metro) district.

Though the district administration arranged vehicles for the poll officials from different police stations in the city to Sarusajai Stadium on Tuesday morning, many complained that there was no vehicle to take them to the stadium, where polling materials were distributed.

City SSP Anand Prakash Tiwari said, "We are prepared to ensure a free and fair election."