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| Indians vote on key election day | Indians vote on key election day |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Millions of Indians are voting on the first big day of the general election pitting the ruling Congress party against the main opposition BJP. | Millions of Indians are voting on the first big day of the general election pitting the ruling Congress party against the main opposition BJP. |
| Polling is being held in 91 seats in 14 states and union territories, including in the capital Delhi and the key state of Uttar Pradesh. | |
| The nine-phase vote began on Monday and will conclude on 12 May. Votes will be counted on 16 May. | The nine-phase vote began on Monday and will conclude on 12 May. Votes will be counted on 16 May. |
| More than 814 million Indians are eligible to vote in the polls. | More than 814 million Indians are eligible to vote in the polls. |
| The anti-corruption Aam Aadmi (Common Man's) Party, which secured a spectacular result in local polls in Delhi last year, offers a challenge to the main parties. | The anti-corruption Aam Aadmi (Common Man's) Party, which secured a spectacular result in local polls in Delhi last year, offers a challenge to the main parties. |
| Several smaller regional parties are also in the fray and if no single party wins a clear majority, they could play a crucial role in the formation of a government. | Several smaller regional parties are also in the fray and if no single party wins a clear majority, they could play a crucial role in the formation of a government. |
| Election Commission officials say more than 110 million voters are eligible to cast their votes on Thursday and almost a fifth of the parliament's 543 seats are up for grabs. | Election Commission officials say more than 110 million voters are eligible to cast their votes on Thursday and almost a fifth of the parliament's 543 seats are up for grabs. |
| Brisk voting is being reported in Delhi, Bihar, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, reports said. Voting is also being held in the states of Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Haryana. | |
| Among the early voters in Delhi were members of the Gandhi family - Congress party president Sonia, her son and party vice-president Rahul and daughter Priyanka. | Among the early voters in Delhi were members of the Gandhi family - Congress party president Sonia, her son and party vice-president Rahul and daughter Priyanka. |
| The AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal also voted early. | The AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal also voted early. |
| Voters have turned out enthusiastically to cast their ballots in the politically crucial northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most number of MPs, 80, to parliament. | Voters have turned out enthusiastically to cast their ballots in the politically crucial northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most number of MPs, 80, to parliament. |
| Some 16 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots in 10 constituencies in the state. | Some 16 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots in 10 constituencies in the state. |
| They include the restive Muzaffarnagar constituency, where at least 65 people were killed and 51,000 people - mostly Muslims - were displaced after Hindu-Muslim clashes in September. | They include the restive Muzaffarnagar constituency, where at least 65 people were killed and 51,000 people - mostly Muslims - were displaced after Hindu-Muslim clashes in September. |
| The BBC Hindi's Nitin Srivastava in Muzaffarnagar says a number of displaced people living in camps in the area turned up to vote early on Thursday. | The BBC Hindi's Nitin Srivastava in Muzaffarnagar says a number of displaced people living in camps in the area turned up to vote early on Thursday. |
| "We want to vote to ensure nothing unfortunate happens to us ever again," Bano, a 42-year-old camp resident said. | "We want to vote to ensure nothing unfortunate happens to us ever again," Bano, a 42-year-old camp resident said. |
| Election officials said by noon, 31% voters had already cast their ballots in Muzaffarnagar. | Election officials said by noon, 31% voters had already cast their ballots in Muzaffarnagar. |
| Early voters | Early voters |
| The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi says voters at a school in the Sarvapriya Vihar district began queuing as polling opened at 07:00 (01:30 GMT). | The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi says voters at a school in the Sarvapriya Vihar district began queuing as polling opened at 07:00 (01:30 GMT). |
| Soon, several dozen people had queued up to cast their votes and the lines were getting longer by the minute. | Soon, several dozen people had queued up to cast their votes and the lines were getting longer by the minute. |
| There was a big turnout of women in Kerala, which has more female voters than men. | There was a big turnout of women in Kerala, which has more female voters than men. |
| People have told the BBC's Yogita Limaye in Elamkunnapuzha, just outside the city of Cochin that they want a new government to improve infrastructure in their state, to build better roads and ensure enough water supply. | People have told the BBC's Yogita Limaye in Elamkunnapuzha, just outside the city of Cochin that they want a new government to improve infrastructure in their state, to build better roads and ensure enough water supply. |
| The marathon vote is being staggered over five weeks for security and logistical reasons. | The marathon vote is being staggered over five weeks for security and logistical reasons. |
| High security | High security |
| Thousands of police and paramilitary security personnel have been deployed to ensure polling passes off peacefully. | Thousands of police and paramilitary security personnel have been deployed to ensure polling passes off peacefully. |
| On Thursday, two soldiers were killed and three others injured in a landmine explosion blamed on Maoist rebels in Jamui, a rebel stronghold in the eastern state of Bihar, police said. | On Thursday, two soldiers were killed and three others injured in a landmine explosion blamed on Maoist rebels in Jamui, a rebel stronghold in the eastern state of Bihar, police said. |
| The blast occurred before polling began, but voting has remained unaffected in the area. | The blast occurred before polling began, but voting has remained unaffected in the area. |
| On the first day of voting on Monday, polling took place in six constituencies in two states in the north-east - five in Assam and one in Tripura. | On the first day of voting on Monday, polling took place in six constituencies in two states in the north-east - five in Assam and one in Tripura. |
| In the second phase on Wednesday, voting was held in six seats across four states. | In the second phase on Wednesday, voting was held in six seats across four states. |
| The main contest in the elections is between the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, the latest member of India's influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and the BJP, led by the charismatic and controversial Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi. | The main contest in the elections is between the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, the latest member of India's influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and the BJP, led by the charismatic and controversial Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi. |
| Mr Modi, who is ahead in all the pre-election opinion polls, is the leader of Gujarat state, which witnessed one of India's worst anti-Muslim riots in 2002. | Mr Modi, who is ahead in all the pre-election opinion polls, is the leader of Gujarat state, which witnessed one of India's worst anti-Muslim riots in 2002. |
| The BJP has promised to improve the economy and infrastructure and curb corruption if it wins in the general elections. | The BJP has promised to improve the economy and infrastructure and curb corruption if it wins in the general elections. |
| The party launched its manifesto hours after polling began for the first phase. | The party launched its manifesto hours after polling began for the first phase. |
| The Congress party has promised "inclusive growth" if it returns to power. | The Congress party has promised "inclusive growth" if it returns to power. |
| In its election manifesto, the party promised a raft of welfare schemes, including a right to healthcare for all and pensions for the elderly and disabled. | In its election manifesto, the party promised a raft of welfare schemes, including a right to healthcare for all and pensions for the elderly and disabled. |
| Any party or a coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a government. | Any party or a coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a government. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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