India Begins Voting in "World's Largest Election"

Millions of Indians started voting today, Friday, in an election that will last for six weeks, serving as a referendum on Narendra Modi, the populist Prime Minister seeking a rare third term as the leader of the country. Voters began lining up outside polling stations hours before they were allowed to enter at 7 a.m. in the first 21 states voting, ranging from the Himalayas to the tropical Andaman Islands. Approximately 970 million people, over 10% of the world's population, will elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) for a five-year term during the staggered election process, which will continue until June 1. If Modi wins, he would be the second Indian leader to hold power for a third term, after Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first Prime Minister. Most opinion polls predict a victory for Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who are facing a broad opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress and strong regional parties.