Millions of Indians have voted in the eastern state of West Bengal to elect a state legislature, with ruling communists hoping to win power for a seventh consecutive term.
The turnout was heavy as voters braved scorching temperatures in the state capital, Kolkata and two other neighboring districts. Thursday's vote is the third stage of the staggered polls that began earlier this month.
Twelve million people are registered to vote in today's ballot. They will choose about a quarter of the seats in the 294-member state parliament.
The final stage of voting in West Bengal will take place May eighth, and vote counting will start three days later. A left-wing alliance has controlled West Bengal's assembly since 1977.
Gautam Gupta has more on the story.
