India – Millions of Indians began voting Friday in a six-week election that is a referendum on Narendra Modi, the populist prime minister who is seeking a rare third term as the country’s leader.
Voters began lining up at polling stations hours before they were allowed to enter at 7 a.m. in the first 21 states to vote, from the Himalayas to the tropical Andaman Islands.
Nearly 970 million people, more than 10% of the world’s population, will elect 543 members of Parliament’s lower house of parliament for a five-year term during successive elections that continue until June 1.
This poll is seen as one of the most important elections in India’s history, and will test the limits of Modi’s political dominance.
If Modi wins, he will be the second Indian leader to retain power for a third term, following Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister.
The majority of opinion polls expect the victory of Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which faces a broad opposition coalition led by the Indian National Congress and strong regional parties.
It is not clear who will lead India if the opposition alliance, called India, wins the elections. More than 20 parties have not yet presented candidates.
Source: AP
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2024-04-20 00:58:47
