New Delhi, April 9 : The voter turnout in Assam Assembly elections was recorded at 59.63 per cent and in Puducherry at 56.83 per cent as of 1 p.m. on Thursday, according to data shared by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Meanwhile, in Kerala, the high-stakes Assembly election gathered remarkable momentum, with nearly 50 per cent of the state's 2.71 crore electorate having exercised their franchise by 1 p.m., raising expectations that the final turnout could challenge long-standing records. The turnout stood at 49.70 per cent.

Polling for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry commenced at 7 a.m. earlier in the day.

The polling is underway for 126 Assembly seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry. The results will be announced on May 4.

In Kerala, around 2.71 crore voters are set to determine who will govern the state. Even before dawn broke, the electoral machinery was in motion. By 5.30 a.m., the state's 30,471 polling booths had sprung to life, with officials initiating mandatory mock polling procedures.

Notably, nearly two lakh voters have already exercised their franchise through home voting.

Despite the formal end of campaigning, the final hours saw candidates across all three fronts in a last-mile scramble meeting overlooked voters and key influencers to secure every possible vote, underscoring the unusually high stakes and palpable anticipation surrounding this election.

In Assam, the main competition is between the BJP and Congress. The incumbent BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the Congress seeks to regain power since 2016.

Voting commenced in a single phase at 7 a.m. and will run until 5 p.m. Long lines of voters were seen outside polling stations from early in the morning. Assam's 126-member Assembly will conclude its term on May 20.

Polling commenced smoothly across the Union Territory of Puducherry on Thursday morning, with voters turning out steadily at booths to elect representatives to the 30-member Assembly.

The election assumes significance as the Union Territory is currently governed by a coalition led by the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), headed by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A keen contest is expected, with all major political formations vying for control. Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar said the administration had made comprehensive preparations to ensure a free and fair poll.

/IANS