Decision 2021: Voters turn out in large numbers in TN, Kerala, Bengal, Assam and Puducherry

Polling took place in four states and one Union Territory on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Shashi Gosh)

While Assam is voting for the final of its three phases, West Bengal is voting for its third phase, and has five more phases to go. (Express Photo by Shashi Gosh)

Voters wearing masks were seen queuing up outside polling booths as voting began at 7 am. In most constituencies, voters who did not have masks were provided with one. (ANI)

In battleground Bengal, over 78.5 lakh voters are exercising their right to vote. Till 1 pm, 53.89 per cent voter turnout was recorded in 31 seats where polling is underway in the state, according to officials. (Express Photo by Shashi Gosh)

BJP is seeking to dethrone the Trinamool Congress government and the Left Front-ISF-Congress alliance is hoping to make a mark in West Bengal. (Express Photo by Shashi Gosh)

In Kerala, as many as 957 candidates, including high-profile leaders and independents, are in the fray in 140 Assembly constituencies across the state. (Express Photo by Shashi Gosh)

Long queues were seen in various constituencies with men accounting for over 50 per cent of the total votes polled till noon in Kerala. As many as 46.81 per cent women and 20.06 transgender voters have also exercised their franchise. (PRD)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan casts his vote on Tuesday. (ANI)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor casts his vote at a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (ANI)

BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma cast his vote on Tuesday. Amid tight security, polling is underway at the 40 assembly constituencies in Assam. (ANI)

Polling is also underway in Tamil Nadu with top leaders including AIADMK's K Palaniswami, O Panneerselvam, DMK chief M K Stalin and celebrities like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan casting their vote. (IPAC)

DMK president MK Stalin, after paying homage at the mausoleum of his party patriarch M Karunanidhi and founder CN Annadurai casted his vote, (IPAC)

Former Puducherry CM and Congress leader V. Narayanasamy casts his vote in Puducherry assembly elections. Puducherry is also voting to elect a new government following the collapse of its Congress-led administration due to an array of resignations. (ANI)