The insurgency-hit north-east Indian state of Assam goes to the polls on Monday in a vote seen as testing public approval for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's policies almost two years after he took office.
Assam, the first of five states holding state assembly polls this month, votes in two phases - on Monday and on April 10.
The main parties contesting Assam are the nationally ruling Congress and the opposition rightwing Asom Gana Parishad, which is concerned about immigration into the state.
Congress currently holds 71 of the 126 Assam legislature seats.
Maintaining its majority would be seen as an indication that the federal government has kept the support of rural voters who are key to its national fortunes.
Premier Singh campaigned in the state Sunday and promised to speed development and make peace with insurgents.
"I appeal to you all to vote the Congress party to power once again so that we can carry forward the peace process initiated with some of the rebel groups and also complete unfinished development works undertaken by the government here during the past five years," Singh said.
At least 100 polling stations are located in inaccessible parts of the state which can only be reached on foot, or by elephant or boat.
About half of Assam's 26 million people are eligible to vote in the first phase of the election.
Security was tight ahead of the poll. Assam has been plagued by insurgencies since 1979 with around a dozen groups operating in the state. At least 10,000 people have been killed in volence in the past two decades.
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