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| India election: Voting starts on biggest polling day | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Indians are voting in the biggest day of the general election pitting the ruling Congress party against the main opposition BJP. | |
| Polling takes place in 121 seats in 12 states, including the key states of Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and West Bengal. | |
| The nine-phase vote began on 7 April and will conclude on 12 May. Votes will be counted on 16 May. | The nine-phase vote began on 7 April 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. |
| Polling has been already completed in 111 seats, and voter turnout in most states has been higher than in 2009. | Polling has been already completed in 111 seats, and voter turnout in most states has been higher than in 2009. |
| With all of its 28 seats going to polls on Thursday, the southern state of Karnataka is a key battleground. | With all of its 28 seats going to polls on Thursday, the southern state of Karnataka is a key battleground. |
| Bangalore South is one of the keenly contested seats in the state with Congress party's Nandan Nilekani, BJP's Ananth Kumar and the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Nina Nayak as candidates. | Bangalore South is one of the keenly contested seats in the state with Congress party's Nandan Nilekani, BJP's Ananth Kumar and the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Nina Nayak as candidates. |
| Mr Nilekani is the billionaire co-founder and former CEO of Infosys, one of India's largest IT services firms, while Mr Kumar is a former federal minister. | Mr Nilekani is the billionaire co-founder and former CEO of Infosys, one of India's largest IT services firms, while Mr Kumar is a former federal minister. |
| Voting will be also held in 19 seats of Maharashtra and 20 seats of Rajasthan. | Voting will be also held in 19 seats of Maharashtra and 20 seats of Rajasthan. |
| 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. |
| Thousands of police and paramilitary security personnel have been deployed across the country to ensure smooth polling. | Thousands of police and paramilitary security personnel have been deployed across the country to ensure smooth polling. |
| 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. |
| The main contest in the elections is between the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, 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, 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 Congress party has promised "inclusive growth" if it returns to power, with a raft of welfare schemes, including a right to healthcare for all and pensions for the elderly and disabled. | The Congress party has promised "inclusive growth" if it returns to power, with 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. |