India began voting in the world's largest election as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a historic third term in office on the back of growth, welfare, his personal popularity and Hindu nationalism.

Delhi

India has commenced voting in what is described as the world's largest election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a third term in office. The election, characterized by its massive scale and the participation of nearly a billion people, marks a significant event as Modi leverages his record on growth, welfare, personal popularity, and Hindu nationalism in his re-election bid.

The polling process is set to unfold over seven weeks, involving phases that will see voters from across 21 states and territories casting their ballots. Notable among these are Tamil Nadu to the south, Arunachal Pradesh at the Himalayan border with China, and Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in the north. Voters identified by their purple-inked forefinger, a measure to prevent electoral fraud, share the importance of this election for the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, eyeing a third term, has positioned his previous terms as preliminary achievements leading up to more significant plans. His campaign focuses on continuing growth, enhancing welfare, and promoting Hindu nationalism. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is up against an alliance of two dozen opposition parties. The opposition criticizes Modi's governance as dictatorial and accuses his government and party of discriminating against the minority Muslim population, a claim the BJP denies.

Amidst this political contest, there are growing concerns over unemployment, inflation, and rural challenges within India, though surveys suggest the BJP is likely to secure a majority. This election not only represents a critical juncture for India's domestic policies but also for its role on the global stage as the world's fastest-growing major economy.



India starts voting in mammoth election

The world's largest election is under way, as nearly a billion people began voting in India on Friday in a poll that's set to last seven weeks. Those leaving voting stations show off a forefinger daubed in purple ink, a mark that shows they cast their ballot, and aims to prevent electoral fraud. This woman says she has waited eagerly for the day, as it's so important for the nation. The largest of the seven phases of voting began Friday. Around 166 million voters across 21 states and territories head to the ballot box, across Tamil Nadu in the south, Arunachal Pradesh on the Himalayan frontier with China, and the most populous Uttar Pradesh in the north. The vote sees Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoping to clinch a historic third term in office. He's called his first two terms appetizers, with the main course served in the third. Modi has campaigned for more growth, welfare and Hindu nationalism. His Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, faces an alliance of two dozen opposition parties, which promises to fight discrimination and to save democratic institutions from what they say is Modi's dictatorial rule. His government and party face criticism they discriminate against India's 200 million minority Muslims to please their hardline Hindu base, which they deny. Surveys say the BJP will easily win a majority, even as concerns grow about unemployment, inflation and rural distress in the world's fastest growing major economy.

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Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

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Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

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Government hints at further tax incentives in Budget

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Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

Colombia ends diplomatic relations with Israel

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Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

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Tbilisi

Thousands protest against Georgia's 'foreign influence' bill

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Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without' ceasefire deal

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Qantas app data breach exposes customer data

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The Hague

ICJ rejects measures over German arms exports to Israel

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New York

Police enter Columbia University, arrest protesters

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London

King Charles returns to public duties, visits cancer center

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Hainault

Teenage boy killed in London sword attack

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Canberra

Brittany Higgins fails in bid to delay defamation trial

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Buenos Aires

Argentina's Milei slashes 24,000 government jobs

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Odesa

Russian missile attack kills five in Ukraine's Odesa

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Edinburgh

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf quits

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Lake Macquarie

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Columbia University suspends pro-Palestinian protesters

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Kharkiv

U.N. experts say North Korea missile landed in Kharkiv

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Madrid

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Riyadh

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Turin

Climate Crisis

Protesters call for climate action ahead of G7 meeting in Turin

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Beirut

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Sulphur

At least four dead in Oklahoma tornadoes

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Pescara

Italian far-right PM Meloni says will stand in EU elections

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Oklahoma

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Wakeley

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