9 April 2014
Last updated at 17:13 ET
Thursday is the first big day of voting in India's marathon election
Polling will be held in 91 seats in 14 states, including in the capital Delhi and the key state of Uttar Pradesh.
The nine-phase vote began on Monday and will conclude on 12 May. Votes will be counted on 16 May.
More than 814 million Indians are eligible to vote in the polls.
The anti-corruption Aam Aadmi (Common Man's) Party, which secured a spectacular result in local polls in Delhi last autumn, 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.
The third phase of the election on Thursday is the first big
day of voting; polling will be held in all seven constituencies of
Delhi, all 20 seats in the southern state of Kerala and 10 seats each in
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa.
Thousands of police and paramilitary security personnel are being deployed to ensure polling passes off peacefully.
On the first day of voting on Monday, polling took place in six constituencies in two states in the north-east - five in Assam and one in Tripura.
In the second phase on Wednesday, voting was held in six seats across four states.
The Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) has 543 elected seats and any party or a coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a government.
Some 814 million voters - 100 million more than at the last elections in 2009 - are eligible to vote at 930,000 polling stations, up from 830,000 polling stations in 2009.
Electronic voting machines will be used and will, for the first
time, contain a None of the Above (Nota) button - an option for voters
who do not want to cast their ballot for any of the candidates.
The main contest in the elections is between the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, the latest member of India's influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and the BJP, led by the charismatic and controversial Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi.
The BJP has promised to improve the economy and infrastructure and curb corruption if it wins in the general elections.
The party launched its manifesto hours after polling began for the first phase.
The Congress party has promised "inclusive growth" if it returns to power.
In its election manifesto, the party promised a raft of welfare schemes, including a right to healthcare for all and pensions for the elderly and disabled.
Indian general election: Voting due on first key polling day
Thursday is the first big day of voting in India's marathon election
Millions
of Indians are due to begin voting on the first big day of the general
election pitting the ruling Congress party against the main opposition
BJP.
The nine-phase vote began on Monday and will conclude on 12 May. Votes will be counted on 16 May.
More than 814 million Indians are eligible to vote in the polls.
The anti-corruption Aam Aadmi (Common Man's) Party, which secured a spectacular result in local polls in Delhi last autumn, 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.
Continue reading the main story
POLLING DAYS
- 7 April - 2 states, 6 constituencies
- 9 April - 5 states, 7 constituencies
- 10 April - 14 states, 91 constituencies
- 12 April - 4 states, 7 constituencies
- 17 April - 12 states, 121 constituencies
- 24 April - 12 states, 117 constituencies
- 30 April - 9 states, 89 constituencies
- 7 May - 7 states, 64 constituencies
- 12 May - 3 states, 41 constituencies
- Counting of votes - 16 May
The marathon vote is being staggered over five weeks for security and logistical reasons.
Thousands of police and paramilitary security personnel are being deployed to ensure polling passes off peacefully.
On the first day of voting on Monday, polling took place in six constituencies in two states in the north-east - five in Assam and one in Tripura.
In the second phase on Wednesday, voting was held in six seats across four states.
The Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) has 543 elected seats and any party or a coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a government.
Some 814 million voters - 100 million more than at the last elections in 2009 - are eligible to vote at 930,000 polling stations, up from 830,000 polling stations in 2009.
Nearly a million electronic voting machines will be used in the elections
The main contest in the elections is between the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, the latest member of India's influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and the BJP, led by the charismatic and controversial Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi.
Continue reading the main story
Indian elections on BBC TV/Radio
- Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: Special edition of Impact on BBC World News at 1300 GMT
- Monday to Thursday: Special edition of Global on BBC World News at 1500 GMT presented from Mumbai/Delhi
- Monday: Newshour special at 1200 GMT on BBC World Service presented from Mumbai
- Thursday: Newshour special at 1200 GMT on BBC World Service presented from Delhi
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.
The party launched its manifesto hours after polling began for the first phase.
The Congress party has promised "inclusive growth" if it returns to power.
In its election manifesto, the party promised a raft of welfare schemes, including a right to healthcare for all and pensions for the elderly and disabled.
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