HAILAKANDI , 3RD JUNE
The administration is all set for the vote counting of the six Legislative Assembly segments of the Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency, scheduled for Tuesday.
The process will take place simultaneously in Karimganj and Hailakandi districts, starting at 8 AM at Karimganj College and Victoria Memorial Higher Secondary School in Hailakandi.
Both the BJP and Congress camps are on edge, as neither is confident of a clear victory in Karimganj.
Despite Congress candidate Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury having an initial advantage with around 200,000 more minority votes after delimitation, his inability to secure a monopoly on these votes has made the race more unpredictable.
Unlike previous elections, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karimganj have not seen significant religious polarization.
Nationally, the BJP secured only 7-8% of minority votes in the last elections. However, to win Karimganj, the BJP needs about 15% of the minority vote this time. With approximately 1.412 million voters in Karimganj, 1.134 million of whom voted, about 643,000 are minority votes.
BJP candidate Kripanath Mala requires around 100,000 minority votes to challenge the Congress effectively.
The BJP’s hope lies in the support from the Maimol community, who are reported to have voted in large numbers for the BJP, aiming for SC status.
As the vote counting day approaches, the Congress camp is visibly anxious, unable to calculate a clear path to a decisive victory.
Both parties expect the battle to go down to the wire, making Karimganj one of the most exciting constituencies to watch in the state.
In Hailakandi district, vote counting will commence at 8 AM on Tuesday, June 4, at Victoria Memorial Higher Secondary School.
Two counting halls, each with 14 counting tables, will be used for the two legislative assembly segments.
The Hailakandi Constituency will undergo 19 rounds of counting, while the Algapur Katlicherra Constituency will have 23 rounds.
