The process is underway in 152 halls across 52 centres, involving 5,823 personnel and 64 general observers.

147 CUs, 210 VVPATs and 147 BUs were replaced during the mock poll after they malfunctioned, the official said.

The turnout was expected to rise as people, who entered the polling stations before 5 pm, the closing time for voting, will be allowed to exercise their franchise.

The BJP has nominated Bijuli Kalita Medhi after replacing its sitting MP Queen Oja, while the Congress has put forth Mira Borthakur Goswami.

Starting at 7 am and extending until 5 pm, polling stations in Guwahati, Barpeta, Dhubri, and Kokrajhar are witnessing the democratic process.

Non-Bodos have been demanding granting of land rights and Scheduled Tribe status.

With 47 contenders vying for victory across four pivotal Lok Sabha seats, the electoral fate of Assam hangs in the balance.

 Barpeta has the highest number of candidates at 14, while Guwahati has the lowest with eight. Dhubri has 13 candidates and Kokrajhar 12.

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), led by Badruddin Ajmal, has signalled its readiness to back a third front or any coalition without the BJP to form the government at the Centre.

Women, who outnumber male voters anyway in all five seats, were seen queuing up at polling stations from 5 am. Most of them said they wanted to cast their vote early so that they could return home and continue with their daily chores

Dibrugarh is considered one of the most economically important constituencies in the state.

Sarma alleged that Gogoi's act of offering namaz in the Sivasagar constituency, while not attending the inauguration of the Ram temple, amounted to appeasement politics.