By ASHOK SHARMA and KRUTIKA PATHI (Associated Press)
NEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of Indians started voting on Friday in a six-week election that's a test of Narendra Modi's leadership, the prime minister known for his strong Hindu nationalist politics and is aiming for a rare third term as the country’s leader.
Voters began queuing at polling stations hours before they were allowed in at 7 a.m. in parts of 21 states, from the Himalayan mountains to the tropical Andaman Islands. Nearly 970 million voters — more than 10% of the world’s population — will elect 543 members to the lower house of Parliament for five years during the staggered election that runs until June 1. The votes will be counted on June 4. There are a total of 28 states in India.
Voting closed at 6 p.m. (1230 GMT) and the estimated turnout was around 60% of 166.3 million eligible voters in the first round, according to the election authority. For comparison, India’s 2019 national election saw the highest ever voter turnout — 67.11% — in the history of Indian parliamentary elections.
The second round will be held on April 26, and the turnout is expected to rise over the course of the voting. Authorities stated that the voting was mostly peaceful on Friday. Media reports mentioned that some supporters of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress party clashed in Chhindwara, a city in central India, during the voting.
Some workers of the BJP and the All India Trinamool Congress clashed in West Bengal state on Thursday night. Some injuries were reported, but the election authority didn’t provide any details.
This election is considered one of the most important in India’s history and will challenge the extent of Modi’s political control.
If Modi is successful, he would be only the second Indian leader to remain in power for a third term, following Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister.
Most polls anticipate a victory for Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which is up against a broad opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress and influential regional parties.
It’s uncertain who will lead India if the opposition alliance, called INDIA, wins the election. Its more than 20 parties have not yet nominated a candidate.
The BJP controls much of India’s Hindi-speaking northern and central regions, but is now attempting to establish a presence in the east and south. Their big