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| India begins second election day | India begins second election day |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Millions of voters in India are voting on the second of five stages of the general election. | |
| Voters in 141 constituencies are casting their ballots in 12 states across the country. | Voters in 141 constituencies are casting their ballots in 12 states across the country. |
| The first phase of voting a week ago was marred by Maoist violence in rural areas across eastern and central India. | The first phase of voting a week ago was marred by Maoist violence in rural areas across eastern and central India. |
| The violence left at least 17 people dead - including police, soldiers, polling officials and civilians. Three election officials were also kidnapped. | The violence left at least 17 people dead - including police, soldiers, polling officials and civilians. Three election officials were also kidnapped. |
| Voters in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand are going to the polls on Thursday. | Voters in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand are going to the polls on Thursday. |
| The incumbent coalition, led by the Congress party, and parties led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are battling a host of smaller parties. | The incumbent coalition, led by the Congress party, and parties led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are battling a host of smaller parties. |
| If no group wins a clear majority, the smaller regional parties could play a crucial role. | If no group wins a clear majority, the smaller regional parties could play a crucial role. |
| Some states are holding votes in several phases. The new parliament has to be constituted by 2 June. | Some states are holding votes in several phases. The new parliament has to be constituted by 2 June. |
| 'Symbolic gesture' | 'Symbolic gesture' |
| Officials hope that the level of violence for the second stage will not be as high as last week, when Maoists launched several attacks, leading to one of the most turbulent beginnings to an Indian election in recent years. | Officials hope that the level of violence for the second stage will not be as high as last week, when Maoists launched several attacks, leading to one of the most turbulent beginnings to an Indian election in recent years. |
| The Congress party hopes to win enough votes to see off the BJP | The Congress party hopes to win enough votes to see off the BJP |
| On Wednesday Maoists seized a train carrying several hundred passengers in eastern India before releasing them later. | On Wednesday Maoists seized a train carrying several hundred passengers in eastern India before releasing them later. |
| Up to 250 rebels took over the train as it travelled through Jharkhand state. A Maoist spokesman said there was no plan to cause harm and it was a "symbolic gesture". | Up to 250 rebels took over the train as it travelled through Jharkhand state. A Maoist spokesman said there was no plan to cause harm and it was a "symbolic gesture". |
| In neighbouring Bihar, rebels shot and killed a truck driver in the town of Gaya, and torched several trucks. | In neighbouring Bihar, rebels shot and killed a truck driver in the town of Gaya, and torched several trucks. |
| The Maoists have asked people to boycott the polls, which end on 13 May. | The Maoists have asked people to boycott the polls, which end on 13 May. |
| The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says that the Indian authorities will be particularly nervous about Thursday's round of elections since the Maoists have now demonstrated their ability to strike at will. | The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says that the Indian authorities will be particularly nervous about Thursday's round of elections since the Maoists have now demonstrated their ability to strike at will. |
| Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed ahead of the vote. | Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed ahead of the vote. |
| The small north-eastern state of Manipur held voting on Wednesday. | The small north-eastern state of Manipur held voting on Wednesday. |
| Most election media attention on Wednesday was focused on BJP candidate Varun Gandhi, on parole for allegedly making anti-Muslim speeches, who filed his nomination papers to fight for a parliamentary seat in the state of Uttar Pradesh on 13 May. | Most election media attention on Wednesday was focused on BJP candidate Varun Gandhi, on parole for allegedly making anti-Muslim speeches, who filed his nomination papers to fight for a parliamentary seat in the state of Uttar Pradesh on 13 May. |
| Mr Gandhi is a grandson of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Although he is a descendant of the influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Mr Gandhi belongs to a side of the family that has disowned it. | Mr Gandhi is a grandson of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Although he is a descendant of the influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Mr Gandhi belongs to a side of the family that has disowned it. |
| In other election-related activity on Wednesday, police say that they raided the Bihar offices of film director Prakash Jha and recovered a large sum of money. | In other election-related activity on Wednesday, police say that they raided the Bihar offices of film director Prakash Jha and recovered a large sum of money. |
| Mr Jha told the Times of India that the raid was illegal and that the cash recovered from his office belonged to a sugar mill that he owned. | Mr Jha told the Times of India that the raid was illegal and that the cash recovered from his office belonged to a sugar mill that he owned. |