On the first day of a series of stale general elections that begins on June 1, tens of millions of Indians cast their ballots.
A seven-phase vote to the 543-seat lower house of parliament will have a turnout of almost a billion people. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) leader Narendra Modi is running for a third term in a row.
Some key opposition functions, including the Congress, have formed an alliance in some states to take on BJP. Results may be made public on June 4th.
Key issues include a jobs problems, rising costs, a clampdown on dissent and criticism, and the politicians of faith.
On Friday, more than 160 million voters in 21 claims were eligible to vote for more than 1,600 individuals in 102 tickets. With 39 chairs, Tamil Nadu in southwestern India was the week vital battle ground position where Mr Modi’s group is trying to make gains.
On April 26th, the next round of election will take place.
