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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Millions of Indians due to vote | Millions of Indians due to vote |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Millions of Indians are due to vote in the first round of the country's 15th general elections. | Millions of Indians are due to vote in the first round of the country's 15th general elections. |
| Voters in 124 constituencies will be taking part in the vote. There are four other phases between it and the last phase on 13 May. | Voters in 124 constituencies will be taking part in the vote. There are four other phases between it and the last phase on 13 May. |
| More than 700 million Indians overall are eligible to vote for seats in the lower house of parliament. | More than 700 million Indians overall are eligible to vote for seats in the lower house of parliament. |
| The incumbent Congress-led coalition government is facing a challenge from the main opposition BJP-led alliance. | The incumbent Congress-led coalition government is facing a challenge from the main opposition BJP-led alliance. |
| It is also competing against a third front of communist and regional parties in a poll that is too close to call. | It is also competing against a third front of communist and regional parties in a poll that is too close to call. |
| Results are due on 16 May and a new parliament must be in place by 2 June. | Results are due on 16 May and a new parliament must be in place by 2 June. |
| Local issues | Local issues |
| The first voting takes place in constituencies spread across the country, including volatile areas in north and central India. | The first voting takes place in constituencies spread across the country, including volatile areas in north and central India. |
| INDIAN ELECTION AT A GLANCE Eligible voters: 714 millionPolling centres: 828,804Voting days: 16, 23, 30 April; 7, 13 MayVote counting: 16 MayLeading candidates: Manmohan Singh (Congress), LK Advani (BJP), Mayawati Quick guide: Indian election class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6344&edition=1"> Send us your comments | |
| States where voting takes place are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Lakshwadeep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. | States where voting takes place are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Lakshwadeep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. |
| More than two million security personnel are expected to be deployed, especially after a string of recent attacks by Maoist rebels who have threatened to disrupt the vote. | More than two million security personnel are expected to be deployed, especially after a string of recent attacks by Maoist rebels who have threatened to disrupt the vote. |
| Thousands of police and paramilitary troops have been deployed across the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, which will vote for both national and state assembly representatives. | Thousands of police and paramilitary troops have been deployed across the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, which will vote for both national and state assembly representatives. |
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| The BBC's Damian Grammaticas explains India's unique election process | The BBC's Damian Grammaticas explains India's unique election process |
| "We have taken every necessary measure to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. Now you go out and vote," state director general of police AK Mohanty said in the state capital, Hyderabad. | "We have taken every necessary measure to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. Now you go out and vote," state director general of police AK Mohanty said in the state capital, Hyderabad. |
| Thousands of troops have also been placed on alert in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which has the most seats in the national parliament. Polling will take place for 16 of the state's 80 seats. | Thousands of troops have also been placed on alert in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which has the most seats in the national parliament. Polling will take place for 16 of the state's 80 seats. |
| Security concerns are also likely to be high in the eastern state of Bihar, where heavily armed Maoist rebels on Wednesday attacked a paramilitary camp set up for the elections, wounding one soldier, senior police official Vikas Vaibhav told the Associated Press news agency. | Security concerns are also likely to be high in the eastern state of Bihar, where heavily armed Maoist rebels on Wednesday attacked a paramilitary camp set up for the elections, wounding one soldier, senior police official Vikas Vaibhav told the Associated Press news agency. |
| The district where the attack took place is 140km (87 miles) south-west of the state capital, Patna. It too goes to the polls Thursday. | The district where the attack took place is 140km (87 miles) south-west of the state capital, Patna. It too goes to the polls Thursday. |
| Neither of the two main parties in the election - Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - is expected to gain a clear majority. | Neither of the two main parties in the election - Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - is expected to gain a clear majority. |
| Both may have to depend on the support of smaller parties to form a government - and correspondents say the campaign rhetoric in recent days has become increasingly bitter. | Both may have to depend on the support of smaller parties to form a government - and correspondents say the campaign rhetoric in recent days has become increasingly bitter. |
| While security and the economy are key election issues, especially after last year's attacks in Mumbai (Bombay), global economic meltdown and local and regional issues are all expected to be key issues. | While security and the economy are key election issues, especially after last year's attacks in Mumbai (Bombay), global economic meltdown and local and regional issues are all expected to be key issues. |
| Will you be voting tomorrow? What are the issues that concern you? Send us your comments using the form below: | Will you be voting tomorrow? What are the issues that concern you? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| Send us your pictures of voting where you are. Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send us your pictures of voting where you are. Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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