Brisk polling in Assam, Tripura

Guwahati/Agartala, Apr 7: Brisk polling was reported from both

and

today where people turned up to vote in the first of the nine-phased Lok Sabha elections.

Till noon an average 35 per cent polling was reported from five constituencies in Assam which was peaceful so far, a Guwahati report quoting Election Commission sources, said. According to sources, 27 per cent voting was registered in Tezpur, 45 per cent in Jorhat, 32 per cent in Lakhimpur, 38 per cent in Dibrugarh and 30 per cent in Koliabor till noon.

Around 40 per cent peaceful polling was recorded till noon in the Tripura West

A report from Agartala said that around 40 per cent peaceful polling was recorded till noon in the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat.

In Assam, long queues of voters were seen in front of the 8,588 polling stations, an hour before the voting began at 7 am, particularly in the rural areas where poll campaigning was intense. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, his wife Dolly Gogoi and his son and Koliabor constituency Congress candidate Gaurav Gogoi cast their vote in Jorhat.

Security measures were tight for the polls with additional companies of security forces, including CRPF, being deployed. A report from Agartala said that people, including women and senior citizens were seen in long queues before booths much before polling began in the capital city.

While male voters outnumbered female voters in the state capital and other towns, women were more in number in tribal compact areas like Mandai and Burakha, about 35 km from here. Tribal women were also seen in traditional attire.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar votes at a polling booth in Agartala. The ninth phase Lok Sabha election will end on May 12 and counting will take place on May 16.

PTI