![Heat and hateful rhetoric in Indian election's final stages](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1716695339/articles/1da8fwc3u1716702271557/HEAT-AND-HATEFUL-RHETORIC-IN-INDIAN-ELECTIONS-FINAL-STAGES.jpg)
More than 111 million voters in eight states and federal territories were registered to vote in the penultimate phase to decide the fate of 889 candidates contesting 58 seats, including all seven seats in the national capital Delhi. The final phase of voting is on 1 June and the results are set to be declared on 4 June.
Nearly 969 million people are eligible to vote in the ongoing election, which will determine if Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist party get a third successive term in power. As voters turned out on Saturday, they had to stand in long queues without adequate shade from the scorching sun. In Delhi, mercury hovered around 42C but it felt like 49C at 2pm, according to the weather department.
"We hope that people will overcome the fear of the heatwave and come and vote," Delhi chief electoral officer P Krishnamurthy said.
Mr Modi also urged voters to come out in large numbers. "Every vote counts, make yours count too," the prime minister said.
This story is from the May 26, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 26, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Smarter Billam-Smith won ugly to stay on top of world](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/vaHoOH8PJ1718608986882/SMARTER-BILLAMSMITH-WON-UGLY-TO-STAY-ON-TOP-OF-WORLD.jpg)
Smarter Billam-Smith won ugly to stay on top of world
Winning ugly is often the best tactic in boxing, and Chris Billam-Smith certainly won ugly late on Saturday night, to keep his world title at Selhurst Park.
![Goal for Danes a full-circle moment for heroic Eriksen](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/frJMfUS9d1718608878253/GOAL-FOR-DANES-A-FULLCIRCLE-MOMENT-FOR-HEROIC-ERIKSEN.jpg)
Goal for Danes a full-circle moment for heroic Eriksen
You have to wonder what sort of thoughts were swirling around Christian Eriksen’s head, as the Denmark talisman waited for the first whistle to sound. It would be understandable if some of them were dark, frightening, or even traumatic. For the last time he began a European Championship campaign, three summers ago, Eriksen died for five minutes.
![Weghorst is unlikely star of Netherlands' comeback win](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/BdIGu_9Vp1718608711298/WEGHORST-IS-UNLIKELY-STAR-OF-NETHERLANDS-COMEBACK-WIN.jpg)
Weghorst is unlikely star of Netherlands' comeback win
It may be of scant consolation to Poland but the World Cup winners have suffered the same fate. A Netherlands manager, seeking a goal and a game-changing substitute, summoned Wout Weghorst.
![England squeeze win with nervous campaign opener](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/HuS17s5S21718608546438/ENGLAND-SQUEEZE-WIN-WITH-NERVOUS-CAMPAIGN-OPENER.jpg)
England squeeze win with nervous campaign opener
A flawless record continues, with some blemishes. Gareth Southgate’s England again won a tournament opening game, on the fourth of four such occasions.
![Eleven homes are bulldozed in India after beef was found](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/5NKs77W2y1718608403578/ELEVEN-HOMES-ARE-BULLDOZED-IN-INDIA-AFTER-BEEF-WAS-FOUND.jpg)
Eleven homes are bulldozed in India after beef was found
Indian authorities have bulldozed the homes of 11 people in the central state of Madhya Pradesh after police found beef in their refrigerators and cows in their backyards.
![Zelensky promises peace talks 'tomorrow' if Russia leaves Ukraine territory](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/cQKCcbTRb1718608292085/ZELENSKY-PROMISES-PEACE-TALKS-TOMORROW-IF-RUSSIA-LEAVES-UKRAINE-TERRITORY.jpg)
Zelensky promises peace talks 'tomorrow' if Russia leaves Ukraine territory
Remarks came at the end of a peace summit in Switzerland
![Thrillseekers stuck at 236ft on UK's tallest rollercoaster](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/p1yK1VBnf1718608234142/THRILLSEEKERS-STUCK-AT-236FT-ON-UKS-TALLEST-ROLLERCOASTER.jpg)
Thrillseekers stuck at 236ft on UK's tallest rollercoaster
Thrillseekers were left dangling for an hour at 236ft after Britain's tallest rollercoaster broke down again, just weeks after being unveiled.
![Ramsay 'lucky to be here' after cycling accident in US](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/9KM3MItUB1718608169224/RAMSAY-LUCKY-TO-BE-HERE-AFTER-CYCLING-ACCIDENT-IN-US.jpg)
Ramsay 'lucky to be here' after cycling accident in US
Gordon Ramsay says he is “lucky to be here” after a “really bad” cycling accident in the US. The celebrity chef was clearly shaken by the incident in Connecticut, which left him with a purple bruise that appeared to cover a significant portion of his chest.
![Officer who ran over calf is taken off frontline duties](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/xRgRSKpg11718608070426/OFFICER-WHO-RAN-OVER-CALF-IS-TAKEN-OFF-FRONTLINE-DUTIES.jpg)
Officer who ran over calf is taken off frontline duties
A Surrey Police officer has been taken off frontline duties after striking a runaway cow twice with his vehicle - a moment caught on video that caused widespread shock as it went viral on social media. In the video, the young cow, Beau Lucy, is seen loose in the street in Staines before being rammed twice by the police vehicle.
![No 10's super-prisons plan doomed to fail, say experts](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1735948/UodXhI0dl1718607962061/NO-10S-SUPERPRISONS-PLAN-DOOMED-TO-FAIL-SAY-EXPERTS.jpg)
No 10's super-prisons plan doomed to fail, say experts
Policy of moving governors around the troubled estate is compared to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic