Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi showing mark after casting votes at a polling station.
India's biggest democratic exercise, the national election, got underway on Monday as people in five Lok Sabha seats in Assam and one in Tripura cast their votes.
The two northeastern states recorded a huge turnout of 72.5 per cent and 84 per cent respectively. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, the Election Commission said the polling percentage in Assam is set to cross 75.
Both Congress and the BJP are competing for a share of the votes from two important communities in Assam, Ahoms and members of the tea garden tribes, who can swing the fortunes here. (
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In Jorhat, some of the three-lakh-strong tea voter community doesn't seem to be impressed by the Congress government. "Our lot has not changed. We don't get the too many facilities like others do in other gardens," says 48-year-old Moulu Karmakar, a worker at Chinamara tea estate.
Even the young voters want change. "There should definitely a change and BJP should come to power," says Bimala Bhowmick, a young woman who works in a tea garden.
In the first phase itself, Assam will decide the fate of the top leaders. And many are viewing this phase as a prestige battle.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's son Gaurav is contesting from Kaliabor, a safe seat for the family for decades. He is pitted against three-term MP and Assam Gana Parishad leader Dr Arun Sharma.
In Jorhat, former cabinet minister B K Handique who's seeking a seventh term is being challenged by the Kamakhya Prasad Tasha, a leader from the tea community and BJP's vice president.
Across the Bramhaputra, in North Lakhimpur, the state BJP chief Sarbananda Sonowal too is locked in a prestige battle with sitting MP and Union minister Rani Narah.
The Congress denies there is an anti-incumbency factor at play. The Chief Minister claims his government's track record is enough for people to reject BJP. "Modi magic won't work here. There is Tarun Gogoi magic here," says Mr Gogoi.
But the BJP that's slowly pitching itself as the main Opposition party in these elections say Mr Modi is the flavour of the season. "Tarun Gogoi chai is over now," says Tasha.
Amidst claims and counter claims, it is finally the voters of India who will decide who's proven right.