Millions of Indians took to the polls on Friday for the second round of the national elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist politics dominating the campaign trail. With 88 constituencies up for grabs in 13 states, the outcome of the voting will be crucial for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as most polls predict a win for them.
Among the prominent candidates in this phase of the elections are Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, running in Kerala after his defeat in the 2019 elections. Other notable candidates include Shashi Tharoor, Hema Malini, and actor Arun Govil.
The elections will see nearly 970 million voters elect 543 members to Parliament in staggered voting. Modi has urged young voters and women to turn out in record numbers, while critics accuse BJP of attacking India’s tradition of diversity and secularism. Modi also sparked controversy with his comments about wealth distribution.
In response to complaints against Modi and Gandhi, Congress party leaders met with election officials, with a ruling expected next week. The turnout for this round of voting is expected to increase as the day progresses, with the final results determining the future of Indian politics for the coming years. Stay tuned to KP Insider for the latest updates on the Indian national elections.
“Prone to fits of apathy. Devoted music geek. Troublemaker. Typical analyst. Alcohol practitioner. Food junkie. Passionate tv fan. Web expert.”