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India elections: millions turn out in first big day of voting India elections: millions turn out in first big day of voting
(about 2 hours later)
Millions of people have turned out to vote across Delhi and the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh amid tight security on the first big day of the Indian general election.Millions of people have turned out to vote across Delhi and the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh amid tight security on the first big day of the Indian general election.
Outside a polling station in a middle-class neighbourhood in south Delhi, six policemen guarded the entrance and journalists were asked to keep their distance as a steady trickle of voters arrived.Outside a polling station in a middle-class neighbourhood in south Delhi, six policemen guarded the entrance and journalists were asked to keep their distance as a steady trickle of voters arrived.
"We should vote. It's our right," said Meenu Jha, who arrived with her elderly mother. "I feel there's much more choice in this election, stronger candidates, but also I'm really glad there's a 'none of the above' option. That's a good development for voters." "I feel there's much more choice in this election, stronger candidates," said Meenu Jha, who arrived with her elderly mother. "But also I'm really glad there's a 'none of the above' option. That's a good development for voters."
Police and paramilitaries were deployed across 14 states and territories, as the world's biggest democracy conducted its third day of voting. India's capital city as well as parts of insurgency-wracked Kashmir and Maoist-guerilla-infested areas in India's centre are voting. Police and paramilitaries were deployed across 14 states and territories as the world's biggest democracy conducted its third day of voting. India's capital city as well as parts of insurgency-wracked Jammu and Kashmir and Maoist-guerilla-infested areas in India's centre are voting.
The election began on 7 April and is staggered over nine days in April and May to elect 543 members of the lower house, the Lok Sabha, or people's assembly. Votes will be counted on 16 May.The election began on 7 April and is staggered over nine days in April and May to elect 543 members of the lower house, the Lok Sabha, or people's assembly. Votes will be counted on 16 May.
Two paramilitary police were reported killed and three injured by a landmine blast in the town of Jamui, eastern Bihar, where Maoist rebels had called for a poll boycott.Two paramilitary police were reported killed and three injured by a landmine blast in the town of Jamui, eastern Bihar, where Maoist rebels had called for a poll boycott.
In the town of Muzzafarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, where at least 65 people were killed and more than 50,000 displaced after clashes between Hindu Jats and Muslims across 20 villages in September, extra police and paramilitaries were deployed to allow those affected by the violence, including rape victims, to vote. In the town of Muzzafarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, where at least 65 people were killed and more than 50,000 displaced after clashes between Hindus and Muslims last August in the worst violence in the state in recent history, extra police and paramilitaries were deployed to allow those affected by the violence, including rape victims, to vote.
"This is an extremely important phase because most of north India is voting and we may see some trends in crucial constituencies," said Dr Mohammed Badrul Alam, head of the political science department at Jamia Milia Islamia University in New Delhi. "This is an extremely important phase because most of north India is voting and we may see some trends in crucial constituencies," said Dr Mohammed Badrul Alam, head of the political science department at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi.
"Uttar Pradesh is key because it sends 80 MPs to parliament and how different communities vote there, including Hindu Jats and Muslims after the riots, will tell us if they are more concerned about religious violence and identity or about everyday worries like jobs and local infrastructure.""Uttar Pradesh is key because it sends 80 MPs to parliament and how different communities vote there, including Hindu Jats and Muslims after the riots, will tell us if they are more concerned about religious violence and identity or about everyday worries like jobs and local infrastructure."
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) has been accused of stoking religious sentiment in Muzzafarnagar and western Uttar Pradesh to gain the Hindu Jat vote. Turnout and voter sentiment in Thursday's phase could tell pollsters if the BJP will see a backlash for its tactics or if the divisive strategy will pay off. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) has been accused of stoking religious sentiment in Muzzafarnagar and western Uttar Pradesh to gain the Hindu vote. Many observers expect the divisive strategy to pay off, handing the BJP an early boost in its quest to win enough seats to form the next government.
The BJP's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, is also accused of allowing the killing of more than a thousand people, mainly Muslims, during his first term as leader of the state of Gujarat in 2002. He denies the accusation and has never been charged.
"For Muslims, communalism is the biggest issue, not prices or corruption," said senior journalist Neerja Chowdhury. "And Muslims make up 13% of India's population. But for the rest of India, the BJP is offering development, a strong leader after years of a vacuum and yes, Hindu nationalism, but that's only part of the cocktail."
Uttar Pradesh is also important because all of India's leading prime ministerial candidates are contesting from there.Uttar Pradesh is also important because all of India's leading prime ministerial candidates are contesting from there.
The Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is standing from Amethi. In the ancient Hindu town of Varanasi, there is a David-and-Goliath contest between Narendra Modi of the BJP and Arvind Kejriwal, the upstart founder of AAP, who won power briefly in local elections in New Delhi. The Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is standing from Amethi. In the ancient Hindu town of Varanasi, there is a David-and-Goliath contest between Narendra Modi of the BJP and Arvind Kejriwal, the upstart founder of the Aam Aadmi (Common Man) party (AAP), who won power briefly in local elections in New Delhi.
The AAP also faces a major test in Delhi where both the urban poor and liberal elite turned out in large numbers to vote the one-year-old party into power in local elections in December 2013.
However, after a tumultuous 49-day tenure, the party stepped down, disappointing many supporters.
The anti-corruption AAP is fielding 70 candidates in national elections and hopes to emerge as a viable third party, an alternative to the stagnating Congress party and resurgent BJP.
More than 814 million Indians are eligible to vote in an election that represents a political and economic watershed.More than 814 million Indians are eligible to vote in an election that represents a political and economic watershed.
Growth has fallen from a high of nearly 9% a few years ago to just 4.5%, too low to absorb India's millions of young graduates seeking jobs.Growth has fallen from a high of nearly 9% a few years ago to just 4.5%, too low to absorb India's millions of young graduates seeking jobs.
This election also features a polarising choice in the BJP's Narendra Modi, who has led his home state of Gujarat with strong economic growth, but is also accused of allowing the slaughter of more than a thousand Muslims during communal riots in 2002.This election also features a polarising choice in the BJP's Narendra Modi, who has led his home state of Gujarat with strong economic growth, but is also accused of allowing the slaughter of more than a thousand Muslims during communal riots in 2002.