Lok Sabha election 2024: World’s biggest poll kicks off as India begins voting - BBC News
Lok Sabha election 2024: World’s biggest poll kicks off as India begins voting - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
The election is taking place in an atmosphere of acrimony.
Since the morning, voters have been thronging polling booths - from Uttar Pradesh in northern India to Tamil Nadu in the south.
Opposition leaders have accused Mr Modi's government of weaponising federal agencies to crack down on its opponents and reduce the chances of a fair election.
More than 163 million people are eligible to vote in the first phase of the election happening today.
Weeks before polling started, authorities arrested Delhi Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwalon corruption allegations. Just weeks earlier, the financial crime agency arrested had another opposition chief minister - Hemant Soren of Jharkhand state.
Both are members of the opposition's INDIA alliance and deny the allegations against them, saying the cases are politically motivated. The BJP says investigative agencies are just doing their job.
In February, the main opposition Congress party said itsbank accounts were frozenby the income-tax department. The party said it was the government's attempt to financially cripple its campaigns ahead of voting - a charge the BJP denies.
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