Nagaon bypoll turnout about 76%, officials say

About 76% of eligible voters cast ballots in the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll in Assam on October 6, election officials said, with the turnout figure still provisional after polling ended. Officials said the percentage could rise because voters who entered polling stations before 5 p.m. were allowed to vote. Counting is scheduled for October 9. The constituency has about 19.05 lakh eligible voters and 15 candidates. The main contest is expected to be among Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Devasish Sharma, Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora and All India United Democratic Front chief Mohammed Badruddin Ajmal. The seat spans eight Assembly segments in Nagaon and Morigaon districts. Turnout rose through the day. Officials reported 17.68% by 9 a.m. and 56.35% by 1 p.m. Laharighat had the highest reported turnout at 61.48% by 1 p.m., while Nagaon-Batadraba had the lowest, at 47.07%. Those interim figures preceded the approximately 76% estimate after polling concluded. The reported electorate included 9.43 lakh women and 50 third-gender voters. Officials identified 624 polling stations as sensitive.