Guwahati: Morigaon district is set for a spirited Panchayat election, as evidenced by the substantial number of candidates vying for various positions, according to the Election Branch of the Morigaon District Administration.
The Zila Parishad segments are witnessing a contest between 29 candidates, with one candidate already securing a victory without opposition. The Anchalik Panchayats are seeing 177 candidates in the fray, where 14 have been declared winners unopposed.
The Gaon Panchayats have the highest number of contenders, with 1,892 candidates participating and 115 already winning without a contest. Jagiroad sub-division has 8 candidates contesting for Zila Parishad seats, 51 for Anchalik Panchayat with 9 unopposed winners, and 574 for Gaon Panchayats, where 61 have won unopposed. Laharighat sub-division sees 14 candidates for Zila Parishad, 89 for Anchalik Panchayat with 1 unopposed winner, and 832 for Gaon Panchayats, with 20 unopposed winners.
Morigaon district’s total voter base stands at 7,00,430, comprising 3,54,785 male voters, 3,45,632 female voters, and 13 third-gender voters. Jagiroad constituency (52) has 2,39,523 voters, including 1,20,022 males, 1,19,499 females, and 2 third-gender voters. Laharighat (53) has 2,81,910 voters, with 1,45,102 males, 1,36,800 females, and 8 third-gender voters. Morigaon constituency (54) has 1,78,997 voters, including 89,667 males, 89,327 females, and 3 third-gender voters.
The electoral landscape of Morigaon district is divided across three assembly constituencies, with 12 Zila Parishad constituencies—four each in Jagiroad, Laharighat, and Morigaon. Jagiroad comprises Daulasal, Dharmtul, Jagibhakatgaon, and Mayong; Laharighat includes Bharagaon, Laharighat, Morabari, and Rajagadhawa; and Morigaon consists of Borbaha, Charaibahi-Chabukdhara, Dandua, and Kushtoli Nij-Gowa. The district has five Anchalik Panchayats: Mayong in Jagiroad, Bharagaon and Laharighat in Laharighat, and Borbaha and Khatuali in Morigaon. A total of 84 Gaon Panchayats are distributed across the district, with 29 in Jagiroad, 30 in Laharighat, and 25 in Morigaon.
The district has 840 wards, with 290 in Jagiroad, 300 in Laharighat, and 250 in Morigaon. To facilitate the elections, 972 polling stations have been established across the district, with Jagiroad having 339, Laharighat 364, and Morigaon 269. The significant candidate participation and the extensive administrative preparations underscore the importance of these Panchayat elections in shaping grassroots governance in Morigaon district.