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| India election: Modi to submit nomination papers as Indians vote | India election: Modi to submit nomination papers as Indians vote |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Narendra Modi, the man expected to be India's next leader, is to submit his election nomination papers as Indians vote in the sixth phase of their poll. | Narendra Modi, the man expected to be India's next leader, is to submit his election nomination papers as Indians vote in the sixth phase of their poll. |
| He arrived in the holy city of Varanasi as supporters from his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) poured onto the streets. | He arrived in the holy city of Varanasi as supporters from his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) poured onto the streets. |
| The city will be the scene of an epic battle between Mr Modi and anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal, who is challenging him there. | The city will be the scene of an epic battle between Mr Modi and anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal, who is challenging him there. |
| There are 117 seats up for grabs on Thursday, but Varanasi votes on 12 May. | There are 117 seats up for grabs on Thursday, but Varanasi votes on 12 May. |
| The ruling Congress party is battling the opposition BJP to win the votes of the 814 million Indians eligible to vote. | The ruling Congress party is battling the opposition BJP to win the votes of the 814 million Indians eligible to vote. |
| About 2,000 candidates are hoping to win over 180 million of those votes as polling takes place in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday. | About 2,000 candidates are hoping to win over 180 million of those votes as polling takes place in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday. |
| Star voters | Star voters |
| The southern state of Tamil Nadu, where voting is being held in all 39 seats on Thursday, is a key battleground to watch. | The southern state of Tamil Nadu, where voting is being held in all 39 seats on Thursday, is a key battleground to watch. |
| More than 35% of votes had been polled by 11:00 local time (05:30GMT), the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reports from the state capital, Chennai. | |
| The main contest is between two powerful regional parties - the ruling AIADMK and the main opposition DMK. The two main national parties are fringe players in the state and have traditionally formed alliances in order to ensure power. | The main contest is between two powerful regional parties - the ruling AIADMK and the main opposition DMK. The two main national parties are fringe players in the state and have traditionally formed alliances in order to ensure power. |
| India's financial capital, Mumbai, is also voting on Thursday in what promises to be a keenly-contested battle between two alliances: the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance against a resurgent BJP-Shiv Sena party. | India's financial capital, Mumbai, is also voting on Thursday in what promises to be a keenly-contested battle between two alliances: the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance against a resurgent BJP-Shiv Sena party. |
| Mumbai usually doesn't see very high turnouts - it was just over 41% in the 2009 election - but many here say this time things might be different. The BBC's Yogita Limaye in the western suburb of Bandra reports a steady stream of voters. | Mumbai usually doesn't see very high turnouts - it was just over 41% in the 2009 election - but many here say this time things might be different. The BBC's Yogita Limaye in the western suburb of Bandra reports a steady stream of voters. |
| In an area where many Bollywood actors live, superstar Aamir Khan has already cast his vote, while Shahrukh Khan is expected to do so in the afternoon, adds our correspondent. | |
| Voting in phases | Voting in phases |
| The marathon vote is being staggered over five weeks for security and logistical reasons. The nine-phase vote began on 7 April and will conclude on 12 May. Votes will be counted on 16 May. | The marathon vote is being staggered over five weeks for security and logistical reasons. The nine-phase vote began on 7 April and will conclude on 12 May. Votes will be counted on 16 May. |
| The main contest in the election 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 election 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. |
| Arvind Kejriwal, contesting against Mr Modi in Varanasi is at the helm of the anti-corruption Aam Aadmi (Common Man's) Party, which secured a spectacular result in local polls in Delhi last year and offers a challenge to the main parties. | Arvind Kejriwal, contesting against Mr Modi in Varanasi is at the helm of the anti-corruption Aam Aadmi (Common Man's) Party, which secured a spectacular result in local polls in Delhi last year and 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. |
| 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. |