Phase 1 polling ends, 72.5% turnout in Assam

The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in five seats in Assam and one in Tripura were held on Monday. The elections was held peacefuly and recorded a huge voter turnout of 72.5 per cent in Assam and 84 per cent in Tripura.

The Election Commission said later in the evening that it expects voter turnout in Assam to cross 75 per cent.

People wait in queues to cast their votes during the first phase of elections in Dibrugarh, in Assam.

Assam state Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, accompanied by his wife Dolly pose with their ink-stained fingers after casting their votes in Jorhat some 310 kms east of Guwahati.

Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar gets his finger marked with ink by an election official as he votes at a polling station in Tripura's state capital, Agartala.

A Mishing tribal woman displays the indelible ink mark on her finger after casting her vote outside a polling station during the first phase of elections at Misamora Sapori, an island in the River Brahmaputra in the northeastern Assam state.

An election officer applies an indelible ink mark on the finger of a Mishing tribal voter during the elections Assam.

Election officials load electronic voting machines (EVM) on an elephant, as they leave for polling stations of the Guwahati constituency, on the eve of national elections in Nortap, Assam.

A polling officer carrying electronic voting machines, accompanied by two security men, arrives in a country boat on the eve of parliamentary elections at Misamora Sapori, Assam.

Vehicles parked at Chowkidinghee field for Lok Sabha election duty in Dibrugarh, Assam.

Policemen gather at Chowkidengee playground ahead of being deployed for Lok Sabha election duty at various polling booths in Dibrugarh, Assam.

Security personnel waiting to move to their respective polling booths on the eve of first phase of General elections, at Jorhat, Assam.

Polling officers leaving for their polling booths with their Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in Tezpur.

Poll officials collect Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) at a distribution center in Jorhat.

Polling agents check electronic voting machines after collecting these at a distribution center on the eve of parliamentary elections at Majuli, a large island in the River Brahmaputra in Assam.

Polling officers carrying Electronic Voting Mechine (EVM) are on their way from Dibrugarh to the most sensitive zone of Laika Dodhiya in Tinsukia district of Assam.

Laborers carry a metal trunk box containing Electronic Voting Machines, as a security officer stands guard inside a strong room in Dibrugarh, Assam.

An election officer getting the Electronic Voting Machines ready for the polling.

An election officer writes a number on the cover of an Electronic Voting Machine which will be used for polling, in Dibrugarh, Assam.

Steel trunks containing election material are stacked inside a school hall, meant for distribution, in Dibrugarh, Assam.

District Administration staff carry election materials for the Lok Sabha elections, in Tezpur.

Polling and Paramilitary officials inspect Electronic Voting Mechine (EVM) and other equipments at a camp in Sharbananda Sonowal Studem in Tinsukia.

Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi greets supporters at an election rally in the state.

Congress President, Sonia Gandhi during a campaign rally in Lakhimpur, Assam.

Supporters at an election rally addressed by Sonia Gandhi, in Lakhimpur, Assam.

Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi waves to supporters as she leaves after addressing an election rally.

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi is seen in various traditional hats of Assam while campaigning in Biswanath Chariali, Gogamukh and Sonitpur.

Image Courtesy: AFP/PTI

BJP's prime ministerial candidate - Narendra Modi, along with other BJP leaders during an election rally, at Biswanath Charali in Sonitpur, Assam.

BJP's prime ministerial candidate - Narendra Modi, addressing an election rally, at Biswanath Charali in Sonitpur district of Assam.

Narendra Modi being felicitated by Lakhimpur Lok Sabha candidate and BJP state unit President, Sarbananda Sonowal, during an election rally at Gogamukh in Dhemaji district of Assam.

Narendra Modi during an election rally at Sibsagar, Assam.

BJP supporters wear masks of party's PM candidate, Narendra Modi, at Biswanath Charali, in Sonitpur district of Assam.

Girls, dressed in traditional attire, hold hands and dance towards the chopper carrying Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, as he arrives for an election campaign rally at Khumtai in Assam.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh receives a traditional memento from Chief Minister of Assam - Tarun Gogoi, and Congress party leader Bhubaneswar Kalita, during an election campaign rally at Khumtai, Assam.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during an election campaign rally at Khumtai in Assam.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio addresses an AGP election campaign rally in Sivasagar, Assam. Also seen on stage is Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) President, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.

Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Reo along with Former Assam Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and senior AGP leader Atul Bora, show victory sign during an election campaign for AGP candidate Anup Phukan at Duliajan in Dibrugarh district, Assam.

Congress candidate Gaurav Gogoi beats a dhol during his election campaign at Samaguri in Nagaon, Assam.

Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam waves towards the crowd as he arrives to campaign for Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat candidate - Paban Singh Ghatowar at Duliajan,Assam.