India votes in world's largest election

The first of India’s almost one billion voters cast ballots on Friday in the country’s mulltiday election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a rare third term on the back of issues such as growth, welfare and Hindu nationalism.

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The vote pits Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of two dozen opposition parties that promise greater affirmative action and more handouts while stressing what they call the need to save democratic institutions.

Nearly 970 million people are eligible to vote in the sevenphase exercise, the world's largest election, which runs through the peak of summer until June 1, with results set for June 4.