818 Candidates File 1,391 Nominations in Assam as Deadline Ends

With the nomination window closing for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, a total of 818 candidates have submitted 1,391 nomination papers for the 126 legislative assembly seats, according to official data released on Monday. Authorities indicated that the figures remain provisional, with final compilation still underway. Parallel to the nomination process, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Assam, has significantly expanded its voter outreach efforts under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme. The campaign is aimed at increasing voter participation while strengthening awareness about democratic rights and electoral responsibilities across the state. To deepen engagement at the grassroots level, district administrations have introduced locally themed mascots, including 'Bakhar' in Lakhimpur, 'Ganabandhu' in Sonitpur, 'Jolou' in Jorhat, 'Chameli' in Golaghat, and 'Dwimlu' and 'Sikhiri' in Kokrajhar. These mascots are being used to connect with diverse voter groups, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions. The campaign has also enlisted public figures to widen its reach. Digital creator Abhinav Bora, popularly known as "LazyGuy," has been named the district icon for Jorhat, while actor Rajiv Duwari is leading awareness initiatives in Lakhimpur. Further reinforcing the inclusive messaging, State SVEEP Icon Rakesh Banik has been touring multiple districts to encourage voter participation, highlighting the Election Commission's focus on accessibility and representation in the electoral process.