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        <hl1 id="Headline1" class="1" style="Headline1">
          <lang class="3" style="Headline1" font="Chronicle Display" fontStyle="Roman" size="23">Heavy turnout marks high-stakes voting day in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry</lang>
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        <lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" font="Minion Pro" fontStyle="Italic" size="9">Continued from P1</lang>
        <lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" font="Minion Pro" fontStyle="Regular" size="9"></lang>
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        <lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" font="Minion Pro" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">“All necessary steps have been taken to facilitate smooth voting and ensure transparency,” an Election Commission official said, adding that special provisions were made for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and first-time voters.</lang>
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        <lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" font="Minion Pro" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">The elections come after an intense campaign that concluded earlier this week, with political parties making last-minute appeals to voters.</lang>
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        <lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" font="Minion Pro" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">The results will be declared on May 4 along with outcomes from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where polling is being held in multiple phases.</lang>
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        <lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" font="Minion Pro" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">In Assam, the contest is largely bipolar, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance seeking a third consecutive term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Congress-led opposition, spearheaded by Gaurav Gogoi, is aiming to return to power after ten years, while regional players such as the All India United Democratic Front, Raijor Dal and Assam Jatiya Parishad are expected to influence outcomes in several seats. The state has over 2.5 crore voters and 722 candidates contesting across more than 31,000 polling stations.</lang>
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