In Pics | How West Bengal, Assam queued up to exercise their franchise

Voting for the first phase of Assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam began earlier today with much fervour. A total of 30 seats are being contested in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls. In Assam, voters will elect representatives for 47 new seats, with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also in contention. While voter turnout in Bengal crossed 70 per cent by 3 pm, Assam is yet to reach 50 per cent. In the polling stations in both the states, voters were seen following Covid-19 rules such as maintaining social distancing and even using gloves to use the EVMs. Here's a look at how people from Assam and West Bengal queued up at polling stations to exercise their franchise:

A woman checks the temperature of a voter before he casts his vote at a polling booth during the first phase of the West Bengal state election in Purulia district. Credit: Reuters Photo

Voters stand in a queue at a polling station to cast their votes for the first phase of Assam Assembly elections in Dibrugarh district. Credit: PTI Photo

An armed policeman wearing a face shield stands guard as women wait in line to cast their votes outside a polling booth during the first phase of the West Bengal state election in Purulia district. Credit: Reuters Photo

Voters put on gloves as part of precautions against Covid-19 while waiting to cast votes at a polling station, during the first phase of polling for Assam Assembly elections, at Rupohi in Nagaon district. Credit: PTI Photo

People, maintaining social distancing, wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling station during the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, at Chandrapur in Lalgarh. Credit: PTI Photo

Elderly voters show their marked fingers after casting votes during the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, at Betkunduri in Jhargram. Credit: PTI Photo

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote at a polling station, during the first phase of Assam Assembly elections, in Dibrugarh district. Credit: PTI Photo

People wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling station during the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, at Chandrapur in Lalgarh. Credit: PTI Photo

Congress MP Gourav Gogoi shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote at a polling station, during the first phase of Assam Assembly elections, in Jorhat district. Credit: PTI Photo

Voters queue up, maintaining social distance as precaution against Covid-19, outside a polling station during the first phase of polling for Assam Assembly elections, at Rupohi in Nagaon district. Credit: PTI Photo