অ্যাকসেসিবিলিটি লিংক

India Votes in Fourth Phase of General Elections


Millions of Indians have voted in the next-to-last stage of the country's month-long general election. Voting in a few areas was marred by violence Thursday.

Police in West Bengal state say at least two people were killed and several injured during clashes between members of rival political parties. In Srinigar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, suspected militants threw a firebomb at a voting station, while rock-throwing separatist protesters clashed with security forces.

Turnout in the territory was reported to be very light amid intense security and a boycott call by separatist leaders. Thursday's polls are the fourth of five stages in the staggered election, which is seen as a close contest between India's two main political parties, the ruling Congress party and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Neither party is expected to win enough seats to govern on its own, so their leaders are seeking potential coalition partners from smaller and regional parties.

Among them is the Communist Party of India (Marxist). One of its leaders, Sitaram Yechury, says his party opposes supporting the Congress Party, but its final position will only be known after votes are counted. Kashmir separatist leaders called for a two-day strike to protest the polls.

Separatists in the Muslim-majority region oppose the elections because they think the voting legitimizes New Delhi's rule of the territory, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan.

The fifth and last phase of voting is May 13. Final results are expected May 16. A new parliament has to be in place by June 2. A total of 714 million people are eligible to vote in India, making this election the world's largest exercise in democracy. The polls are staggered for logistical and security reasons.

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