India's Election Commission announced that national elections will begin on April 11, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party seeks a second term.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
About 900 million people are eligible to vote in a staggered process that allows the government to deploy tens of thousands of troops around the country to prevent violence and the capture of voting stations by party activists.
Modi's Bhartiya Janata Party, or BJP, hopes the government's recent tough stand against Pakistan will help it retain its popularity despite suffering a setback in December when it lost three key state elections to the opposition Congress party.
India's last national election, in 2014, was conducted in nine phases. The BJP achieved an absolute majority, with 282 parliamentary seats out of 543. The then-ruling Congress party managed only 44 seats following bribery charges against several party leaders and poor governance.
The votes will be counted May 23.
Australian Associated Press
