Voting in India Underway

The final stage of voting in India's general election is now underway. There are signs that a weak coalition could emerge the winner just as the Asian power faces an economic slowdown.
Security forces are on high alert following militant threats to disrupt Indian elections. Authorities are taking all possible steps to ensure that the massive general election passes off without any untoward incident.

Wednesday's vote is being held in nine provinces.

In Kolkata voters beat the early morning rains to line up at polling stations.

Meanwhile, in the Kashmir Valley, voters defied a boycott call given by separatists to cast their votes in large numbers.

Kashmir's separatist leaders are struggling to win back popular support, and are hoping that a boycott of the election may yet breathe new life into the 20-year movement.

But Kashmiris are questioning whether such tactics have brought them any closer to the long-held goal of self-determination.

[Kifayat Hussian, Voter]:
"I don't think that the boycott call given by the Hurriyat is having any effect on the people as they have also realized that there is nothing to be gained from these boycotts and many have come here to cast their votes."

The results will be known on Saturday, May 16.

India's elections are notoriously hard to predict, but most polls tip the Congress Party as the likely victor. Nonetheless, the pro-business BJP party has been gaining traction with some savvy alliance building.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• India
• Economic
• Asia
• Election
• Politics
• Kolkata
• Kashmir
• Separatist

[porchmonkey78]

stupid hindus