Voter participation picked up pace across Assam, Keralam and Puducherry by early afternoon on Thursday, with polling crossing the halfway mark in some regions.
According to figures released by the Election Commission of India, turnout in Assam reached 59.63 per cent by 1 PM, while Puducherry recorded 56.83 per cent. In Keralam, participation stood at 49.70 per cent, with nearly half of the electorate having cast their votes.
Polling began at 7 AM for Assembly elections in all three regions, covering 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Keralam and 30 in Puducherry. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
Keralam, which has an electorate of around 2.71 crore, saw a strong start to the day. Polling stations were operational well before voting hours, with officials completing preparatory procedures early in the morning.
Nearly two lakh voters had already exercised their franchise through home voting, adding to the overall turnout.
In Assam, voters turned up in large numbers from the start, with queues forming outside polling stations. The election is being held in a single phase, with the ruling BJP seeking to retain power and the Congress attempting a comeback.
The current Assembly’s tenure is likely to end later this month.
Puducherry also reported steady polling, with voters visiting booths throughout the day.
N Rangasamy leads the coalition governing the Union Territory, and the election will likely see close contests across constituencies.
Despite campaigning having concluded earlier, political activity remained intense in the final hours before voting, with candidates reaching out to voters in closely fought seats.
Officials said arrangements were in place to ensure smooth and fair polling, as voting continues across all constituencies.
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