Guwahati:
The battle-lines have been drawn for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in five seats in Assam on Monday.
The Congress, BJP, Trinamool Congress, All India United Democratic Front , Asom Gana Parishad, Aam Aadmi Party, Socialist Unity Centre of India, Communist Party of India - Marxist, All India Forward Bloc and the Samajwadi Party are contesting in the five seats in Tezpur, Koliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur in the Congress-ruled state. (
India Votes 2014: schedule)
Among the 51 candidates are Union ministers Ranee Narah and Paban Singh Ghatowar, former Union minister and sitting Member of Legislative Assembly Bijoy Krishna Handique, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's son Gourav Gogoi and Bhupen Kumar Bora of the Congress. (
India Votes 2014: full coverage)
Congress rebel and Independent candidate Moni Kumar Subba is also contesting.
BJP's state unit president Sorbananda Sonowal and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa are also in the fray while AGP's candidates are Arun Kumar Sarma, Pradip Hazarika and Joseph Toppo. (
Voting for nine-phase Lok Sabha election begins on Monday)
An electorate of 64,41,634, including 31,20,067 women, will cast their vote in 8,588 polling stations.
For the first time in the northeast and the third time in the country, after Kashmir and Bihar, all polling booths have been declared smoking-free zones.
Security measures have been tightened for the polls and additional companies of security forces have been deployed.
The next phase of the polls will be held in Assam on April 12 for three Lok Sabha seats.