The final day of voting has begun in India’s general election, with huge crowds turning up in the sacred city of Varanasi, a key election battleground.
Opposition BJP leader Narendra Modi is being challenged in the seat by anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal.
Votes are also being cast in 40 other seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal states. The first exit polls are expected on Monday evening.
Mr Modi is ahead in all the opinion polls. Votes will be counted on 16 May.
First stop before the polling station for some voters here was the Ganges river, for a dip in its sacred waters.
There’s been a strong early turnout, with many voting early to beat the rising heat.
The battle in this holy city is now being seen as a straight fight between Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP and Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party.
Mr Modi is still expected to win but many have been inspired by Mr Kejriwal’s anti-establishment message and his party’s determined door-to-door campaign.
After being bombarded by all the parties for weeks, it’s hardly surprising that many voters were being coy in admitting who they were choosing.
But there were some signs of nervousness among BJP workers manning a stand near one polling station. At one they were telling people ‘to vote for anybody, just don’t waste it on the Broom’ – short-hand for Mr Kejriwal
India’s marathon election began on 7 April and has been held in nine phases for security and logistical reasons.
With 814 million eligible voters, it is the world’s biggest exercise in democracy and the governing Congress party is battling the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for power.
Varanasi has been the scene of frenzied political campaigning not seen in the ancient city in decades. The city been turned into a virtual fortress with thousands of police and paramilitaries deployed to ensure peaceful polling.
BBC Hindi’s Nitin Srivastava in the city says large crowds, including many women, are turning up at polling stations, after voting began at 07:00 local time (01:30 GMT).
People are walking or taking cycle rickshaws to the booths as traffic restrictions are in place across the city, our correspondent says.
“Varanasi will finally see some change and development. I am glad to have lived for the day,” Ramavati, 93, said.
One woman told the BBC that she had cast her ballot “for the person who will bring development and progress”.
“The main issues are inflation, corruption and unemployment,” she said.
Mr Modi is being given a spirited fight by Mr Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party, whose army of volunteers is engaged in extensive door-to-door campaigning.
There are a total of 42 candidates in the fray in the seat, including the Congress party’s Ajay Rai, a local political leader.
via BBC News – India election: Narendra Modi faces Arvind Kejriwal on final vote day.
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