Doomdooma, April 9 -- Despite heavy overnight rain, voters, including women and first-time electors, queued up early on Thursday at Polling Station 83 in the Beesakopie Division Labour Club, located within one of Asia's largest tea estates in Assam's Tinsukia district.

Polling began at 7 a.m., with security personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Police maintaining strict vigil at the entrance of the labour club in the sprawling Beesakopie Tea Estate in Doomdooma.

Dukhni Tanti, waiting in line, said her family's priorities were clear. "We need a government that creates more jobs for our children, controls rising prices and ensures higher daily wages. These are the biggest challenges in our state," she said.

Her husband...