Upbeat kickoff to the first phase of polls

GUWAHATI/ DIBRUGARH/ AGARTALA: The general election kicked off from the northeast, with five constituencies in Assam and one in Tripura voting on Monday. Even the high temperature failed to dampen the spirit of voters who thronged the polling booths from the morning.
Assam's Kaliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Lakhimpur constituencies saw a significant participation of women and youngsters in the voting process, as did the Tripura West constituency.There were long queues outside polling booths since morning, setting the tone for the rest of the day. Women outnumbered men at most booths.
Tepuram Boro was one of the first to cast his vote at the Bargaon Chapori polling centre which falls under Tezpur. Making special mention of flowering trees, a common sight during this time, Tepuram said the ambience helped him vote with an open mind.
"Spring is the season of hope. I have cast my vote with anticipation and I hope that the next government will pay heed to our problems," Tepuram said.
Tezpur is currently represented by Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)'s Joseph Toppo who is seeking re-election on an AGP ticket. Former Congress MP and lottery baron Mani Kumar Subba, who filed his papers from Tezpur as an Independent after Congress denied him a ticket, had to be hospitalized in New Delhi ahead of the polls. Sitting MP and Union DoNER minister Paban Singh Ghatowar, who is seeking his sixth win from Dibrugarh, is in the fray with six other candidates.
First-time voter and twenty two-year-old CA student Utsav Khemani came all the way from Kolkata to vote in his native Dibrugarh. "I didn't want to lose my first opportunity to vote. Our constituency (Dibrugarh) has seen very little growth in these years despite the abundance of natural resources. Many projects have been left unfinished for years because of a lack of political will," he said.
The enthusiasm was not restricted to young and first-time voters only as elderly voters also stepped out to cast their votes. The mood was summed up by 92-year-old Rupali Chetia who has voted in all elections since 1951.
"I've been voting since the time of Jogendra Nath Hazarika (the first MP from Dibrugarh). The prices of goods have increased manifold and there is large-scale unemployment in the state. We want a government which can address these issues," she said.
Perhaps in obeisance to the season, voters came out with a distinct spring in their step. Dhanmoni Dutta of Lakhimpur, said, "My constituency is always beset by flood and erosion problems. These issues are never addressed. Despite that, I have voted with a lot of expectation and I hope that that whoever forms the next government will be able to bring positive changes to my constituency," Dhanmoni said.
Congress MP and Union minister of state for tribal affairs Ranee Narah is seeking re-election from Lakhimpur.
The world's largest electoral process left its impact on foreign nationals as well.
"Despite political differences, I saw the workers of major parties sitting together and sipping tea outside the polling booths. This is really unique," said Rozar Brona Lolla, an Australian scholar on her maiden trip to the region.