GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Railway Station has become a gathering point for numerous passengers who intend to travel back home to vote in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections.

From early morning, commuters faced long queues and crowded platforms, struggling to find transportation to their constituencies.

The situation has led to chaos, with some bus drivers taking advantage of the high demand by charging exorbitant fares -- reports indicate journeys costing ₹1,000 for trips that normally cost around ₹200. Complaints have also emerged against certain bus operators for overcharging. Despite the hardships, people remain determined to exercise their democratic right.

The Paltan Bazaar railway station experienced similar situations, as voters demonstrated their irritation about the unavailable transportation options.

As per reports, the state will not permit green buses to operate during the next two days because most vehicles have been assigned to the Election Commission of India (ECI), which creates additional problems for travelers. The ISBT facility holds all remaining buses to support necessary transportation activities.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated the process of deploying EVM and VVPAT machines to five Guwahati constituencies from the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre strong room at Betkuchi. Polling officials transfer election equipment and materials to Dispur and four other voting locations across Dimoria, New Guwahati, Central Guwahati, and Jalukbari constituencies. The voting process will begin at 7 AM, and law enforcement officials will remain vigilant to maintain order throughout the polling time.

The Kamrup Metro district contains 1,218 polling stations which service 10,55,288 registered voters who include 5,07,857 men and 5,47,400 women and 31 voters who identify as third gender. The Dispur constituency has 2,44,725 voters across 272 polling stations, Dimoria has 2,18,158 voters in 262 stations, New Guwahati has 1,92,148 voters in 219 stations, Central Guwahati has 1,92,615 voters in 218 stations, and Jalukbari has 2,07,642 voters in 247 stations. The district has one polling station designated as the model polling station for each constituency, while 120 polling stations throughout the district are under the complete authority of female election officers. Across the five constituencies, 25 candidates have registered to run for election.

International Eyes on Assam: Observers Arrive to Monitor Poll Fairness

For the first time, an international team of election observers has arrived in Assam to monitor the election process. Hosted by the Election Commission, 15 representatives from seven countries -- including Angola, Benin, Croatia, Egypt, Mexico, Portugal, and Sri Lanka -- will visit various polling stations, review the conditions for polling and presiding officers, and inspect the security measures at strong rooms to ensure transparency and fairness. The delegation is divided into three groups, each with a designated protocol officer and videography team, ensuring systematic observation across the city. Bipul Das, Joint Secretary from the CEO office, is the nodal officer overseeing the programme, with the team accommodated at Radisson Blu, Guwahati.

According to the IEVP schedule for April 8-9, 2026, the observers arrived at LGBI Airport at 10:40 AM, followed by visits to the dispatch centres and media monitoring units. Group-wise polling station visits are planned early on the second day, covering a range of schools and local centres across Kamrup and Kamrup Metro, with a visit to district webcasting monitoring centres afterward.

Thousands Flock Guwahati Stations Ahead of Assam Polls Amid Transport Chaos