India began voting in the fifth phase of its general elections, with seats in Mumbai and the Gandhi family bastions up for grabs. The world’s largest election, which began on April 19, will conclude on June 1, with votes being counted on June 4.
This phase has the least number of seats being contested, with 89.5 million voters choosing representatives for 49 seats. High-profile candidates like defence minister Rajnath Singh and trade minister Piyush Goyal are in the fray, urging residents to erase the stigma of urban apathy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized better infrastructure and ease of living in Mumbai, following a tragic incident where a billboard fell during a rainstorm, killing 14 people. The Congress party’s Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is also in the spotlight, with Rahul Gandhi contesting in Raebareli and Wayanad.
Sonia Gandhi made an emotional appeal for voters to support her son in a region dominated by the BJP. Smriti Irani, minister for women and child development, is contesting from Amethi, a seat she won against Rahul Gandhi in 2019.
Despite concerns over poor voter turnout initially, more people have been casting their votes, with an average turnout of 66.95% in four phases. Modi, expected to return as prime minister, has been accused of targeting minority Muslims, a claim he denies.
The opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, received a boost after Arvind Kejriwal was allowed to campaign in the elections. With the final phases approaching, the political landscape in India is heating up as the country awaits the results of this historic election.