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| India election: Voting held on biggest polling day | India election: Voting held on biggest polling day |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Millions of Indians have voted in the biggest day of the general election pitting the ruling Congress party against the main opposition BJP. | Millions of Indians have voted in the biggest day of the general election pitting the ruling Congress party against the main opposition BJP. |
| Nearly 200 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots in 121 seats in 12 states, including Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. | Nearly 200 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots in 121 seats in 12 states, including Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. |
| 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. |
| Election Commission officials say voter turnout in most states in the general election so far has been higher than in 2009. | Election Commission officials say voter turnout in most states in the general election so far has been higher than in 2009. |
| Thursday was one of the most critical days of voting spread across 12 states, from Indian-administered Kashmir in the north, to the information-technology hub of Bangalore in the south, Rajasthan in the west and the tea-growing Himalayan town of Darjeeling in the east, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reported. | Thursday was one of the most critical days of voting spread across 12 states, from Indian-administered Kashmir in the north, to the information-technology hub of Bangalore in the south, Rajasthan in the west and the tea-growing Himalayan town of Darjeeling in the east, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reported. |
| "I want a clean government. One that is corruption free and that can take decisions in the interest of our country," a young woman voter in Rajasthan's Jaipur city told our correspondent. | "I want a clean government. One that is corruption free and that can take decisions in the interest of our country," a young woman voter in Rajasthan's Jaipur city told our correspondent. |
| A young man said he was voting for BJP as its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi "represented change". | A young man said he was voting for BJP as its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi "represented change". |
| A Muslim voter, however, said people should vote for a "leader who will represent all communities, one who will take everyone along". | A Muslim voter, however, said people should vote for a "leader who will represent all communities, one who will take everyone along". |
| The southern state of Karnataka where voting was held in all the 28 seats on Thursday is a key battleground. | The southern state of Karnataka where voting was held in all the 28 seats on Thursday 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. |
| "I think my vote will make a change. I want my country to be a superpower. We have good candidates with a clean image who I am sure will give good governance," Anita, a first time voter, told BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi. | "I think my vote will make a change. I want my country to be a superpower. We have good candidates with a clean image who I am sure will give good governance," Anita, a first time voter, told BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi. |
| Reports said voters streamed in through the day into polling stations even in the central state of Chhattisgarh where Maoist rebels had given a call to boycott the elections. | Reports said voters streamed in through the day into polling stations even in the central state of Chhattisgarh where Maoist rebels had given a call to boycott the elections. |
| "I want a good life for my baby, security and peace,'' Associated Press quoted Neha Ransure, a 25-year-old woman voter in Rajnandgaon town as saying. "The rebels are bad. They kill our soldiers. I don't go outside of town. It is too dangerous," she added. | "I want a good life for my baby, security and peace,'' Associated Press quoted Neha Ransure, a 25-year-old woman voter in Rajnandgaon town as saying. "The rebels are bad. They kill our soldiers. I don't go outside of town. It is too dangerous," she added. |
| 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. |