India has kicked off its massive general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aiming to expand its parliamentary majority amid allegations of democratic erosion under its decade-long rule.
This election is the largest democratic exercise globally, involving over 969 million voters, which is more than 10% of the world’s population. Voting commenced at 8 a.m. on Friday across 102 constituencies nationwide and will proceed over the next six weeks, divided into seven phases, culminating on June 1. Results will be tabulated and announced on June 4.
The initial phase of voting took place in several states and territories, including all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, 12 seats in Rajasthan, and a selection of seats in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Voting also occurred in smaller territories like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mizoram, and Lakshadweep.
The first phase also included five seats each in Assam and Maharashtra, four in Bihar, three in West Bengal, two in Manipur, and one each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh. This broad scope highlights the diversity and complexity of the Indian political landscape, as voters across different regions cast their ballots in what is expected to be a closely watched election.
