India gears up for final phase of elections

Agencies Published May 10, 2014
India’s ruling Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi bends to shake hands with supporters during an election campaign rally in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Saturday, May 10, 2014. – Photo by AP
India’s ruling Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi bends to shake hands with supporters during an election campaign rally in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Saturday, May 10, 2014. – Photo by AP
Supporters of Rahul Gandhi (not pictured), India's ruling Congress party's vice president and son of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, cheer during a road show ahead of the last phase of India's general election in the northern Indian city of Varanasi May 10, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
Supporters of Rahul Gandhi (not pictured), India's ruling Congress party's vice president and son of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, cheer during a road show ahead of the last phase of India's general election in the northern Indian city of Varanasi May 10, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
A supporter of India's Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi waves as Gandhi makes his way atop a truck through the streets of Varanasi on the final day of campaigning in the Indian elections on May 10, 2014. – Photo by AFP
A supporter of India's Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi waves as Gandhi makes his way atop a truck through the streets of Varanasi on the final day of campaigning in the Indian elections on May 10, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Indian residents walk past a poster showing portraits of Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi (Left) and Rahul's mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi during the final day of campaigning in the Indian elections in Varanasi on May 10, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Indian residents walk past a poster showing portraits of Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi (Left) and Rahul's mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi during the final day of campaigning in the Indian elections in Varanasi on May 10, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or the common man party, chief Arvind Kejriwal greets supporters during an election campaign rally in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh Friday, May 9, 2014. – Photo by AP
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or the common man party, chief Arvind Kejriwal greets supporters during an election campaign rally in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh Friday, May 9, 2014. – Photo by AP
Residents wear caps in support of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or the common man party, during an election rally by their leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Friday, May 9, 2014. – Photo by AP
Residents wear caps in support of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or the common man party, during an election rally by their leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Friday, May 9, 2014. – Photo by AP
A Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, wears a cap in support of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or the common man party, and participates in an election rally of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Friday, May 9, 2014. – Photo by AP
A Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, wears a cap in support of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or the common man party, and participates in an election rally of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Friday, May 9, 2014. – Photo by AP
An Indian boy wears an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or the common man party, cap during an election rally of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Friday, May 9, 2014. – Photo by AP
An Indian boy wears an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or the common man party, cap during an election rally of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Friday, May 9, 2014. – Photo by AP

Campaigning in India's bitterly fought election entered its last day May 10 ahead of next week's final voting with the Hindu nationalist opposition already scenting victory. Rahul Gandhi, heading the campaign of the ruling Congress party which is seen heading for a crushing defeat, sought to muster a final show of strength in the holy Hindu city Varanasi.

Varanasi will go to the polls on May 12, the final day of voting, with Kejriwal running from the constituency against Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate of India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Around 815 million people have registered to vote in the world's biggest election - a number exceeding the population of Europe and a world record - and results of the mammoth exercise are due on May 16.

Multimedia

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Comments (3) Closed
Ahmed Khan
May 10, 2014 06:50pm
Is baar MODI sarkar
Recommend 0
GOPAL MURTI
May 11, 2014 06:06am
News papers often describe India's general elections as the world's biggest election with around 815 million people voting. They describe it as a number exceeding the population of Europe and so on. If we look at numbers carefully, Indian elections with 815 million voters, are bigger than the rest of "true" democracies put together. This world does not have 815 million voters put together, excluding India of course.
Recommend 0
RamRahimRobert
May 11, 2014 07:41am
@Ahmed Khan Apke Moo me Gee Shakar
Recommend 0

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