Parliamentary elections have begun in India

It is a mega election: 970 million people in India are called upon to cast their votes. Prime Minister Modi is hoping for a third term in office.

The parliamentary elections have begun in India. Around 970 million eligible voters are called upon to vote at more than one million polling stations on the composition of the lower house, which has more than 500 seats. Voting began in the morning in 102 electoral districts in 21 states and so-called Union Territories, as the Election Commission announced.

The election lasts six weeks because of the size of the country – with 1.4 billion inhabitants, India is the most populous country in the world. The result is expected on June 4th. Polls predict a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party BJP. This means that the 73-year-old, who is extremely popular with the people, could rule for another five years after ten years in power. Modi’s biggest challenger is Rahul Gandhi of the Congress Party, which has ruled for most of India’s independence from Great Britain in 1947.

Under Modi, India became the fifth largest economic power. The opposition, on the other hand, points to problems such as high unemployment and inflation, the large gap between rich and poor and widespread corruption. Critics also accuse the head of government of using state instruments of power specifically against the opposition: Before the election, several opposition leaders were arrested on corruption charges, among other things.