The election is regarded as one of the most significant in India’s history. If Modi wins, he will become only the second Indian leader to secure a third term in power.
Millions of Indians voted on Saturday in the penultimate round of a demanding national election, with a united opposition attempting to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign for a third consecutive term for himself and his Hindu nationalist party.
Many voters arrived at polling stations before the voting began at 7 a.m. to avoid the intense heat of the Indian summer, with temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) in the afternoon in New Delhi.
“This election is like a festival, so I don’t mind voting in the heat,” said Lakshmi Bansal, a housewife.
Saturday’s voting in 58 constituencies, including seven in New Delhi, will complete polling for 89.5% of the 543 seats in the lower house of Parliament. The remaining 57 seats will be decided on June 1, concluding a six-week election. The votes will be counted on June 4.
President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar were among the early voters. Opposition Congress party leaders Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi also cast their votes in New Delhi.