Guwahati: After its success in the Punjab Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is seeking to expand its base in the northeastern region and has fielded 40 candidates for Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) elections which is scheduled to be held on April 22.
Bhaben Chowdhury, the AAP’s Assam unit coordinator, claimed the party had candidates in 40 of the 60 seats up for election in the GMC. He further asserted that by securing a majority of seats, the party will be able to create the board.
AAP leaders said that Delhi Chief Minister and National Convener Arvind Kejriwal has been promoting morality in politics and that such principles would help the party expand its base in Assam and other northeastern states, buoyed by its first taste of success in two municipal wards in Lakhimpur and Tinsukia districts in the last month’s civic polls.
The AAP is attempting to position itself as a viable alternative to the two national parties, the BJP and the Congress in the GMC elections,
It needs to be mentioned that the Assam State Election Commission has decided to hold the election to the 60 wards of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Election on April 22, 2022.
Moreover, the voting will be held from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
There are a total of 208 candidates running for the GMC elections, which will be contested by 7, 97,807 voters, including 4, 00,654 females and 26 people of the third gender. The total number of polling stations is 69.
The voting will take place in EVMs provided by the Election Commission.
The Covid protocol must be followed during voting and counting ballots. From 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., no campaigning will be permitted. Only 30 national political party leaders can run the campaign.
It is to be noted that women will be given 50% of the seats in municipal elections. Two wards would be reserved for Scheduled Caste women, while four wards will be reserved for Scheduled Caste Men. The highest amount a candidate can spend is Rs.2.5 lakh.