HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, April 18: As the countdown to the elections in the Sonitpur Lok Sabha constituency nears its end, preparations have reached its peak.
With just one day left before the polls, authorities and officials have left no stone unturned to mobilise resources and initiate necessary measures to ensure a smooth and peaceful electoral process in 11-Sonipur HPC. Security forces  have intensified security arrangements across the constituency, deploying additional personnel to maintain law and order during the election.
To accomplish election duties in 1100 polling stations in five Legislative Assemblies including Tezpur, Naduar , Borchala, Rangapara and Dhekiajuli under Sonitpur Lok Sabha constituency five thousand polling officials, sufficient numbers of security personnel  along with 900 vehicles and other designated officials related to the mechanism  left for their respective polling stations for the first phase election to be held on April 19.
The Sonitpur district administration has set three model polling stations in Tezpur Baan Rangamancha, Rangapara and Swahid Kumali Devi LP School in Kawaimari area. Old Tezpur Baan Rangamancha under Tezpur LAC has been decorated with the photographs of legendary figures like Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Sahitya Kandari Padmanath Gohain Baruah, Sudhakantha Bhupen Hazarika and others and with other facilities. Thw Swahid Kumali Devi LP School polling station of Kawaimari area has been decorated with photographs highlighting heroism and the theme of India’s independence struggle. On the other hand, 150 numbers of women presiding officers and polling officials are engaged in the polling process besides engaging specially-abled personnel in several polling stations.
A total of 1878 polling stations have been set up across Sonitpur Lok Sabha constituency, which include nine LACs comprising of Bihpuria  , Biswanath, Gohpur,  Behali , Tezpur, Naduar , Borchala, Rangapara and Dhekiajuli . Among them 253 polling stations have been set up in Dhekiajuli LAC, 219 in Barchala LAC, 203 in Tezpur, 194 in Rangapara  LACand 231 in Naduar LAC. On the other hand, Biswanath LAC ,Behali  LAC, Gohpur LAC  and  Bihpuria LAC contain  218, 176, 198 and 18  polling stations respectively. .
Returning officer cum district commissioner of Sonitpurm, Deba Kumar Mishra along with the general observer of Sonitpur HPC, M R Ravi Kumar observed the overall preparedness of the whole electoral process here at the Darrang College play ground in Tezpur on Thursday. Â Sonitpur Lok Sabha constituency has a total of 16,33,800 number of voters including 8,12,755 male voters , 8,21,012 female voters and 33 transgender voters. Various contenders have been getting ready for the battle after highlighting their respective agendas and promising development and progress for the constituency during their campaigns.
While a triangular contest is anticipated among  Premlal Ganju  from Indian National Congress , Ranjit Dutta from Bharatiya Janata Party and  Rishiraj Kaundinya from Aam Aadmi Party, the  presence of five other candidates including BPF’s Raju Deuri , Alam Ali from Bahujan  Maha Party , Kameswar Swargiary from Voters Party International , the sole female contender of the constituency  Rinku Roy from Gana Suraksha Party and Pradip Bhandari cannot be ignored. Anticipation and excitement has gripped the Sonitpur HPC, with citizens eagerly waiting to cast their votes.
