India holds world’s largest poll
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India’s general election pits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling BJP against a raft of opposition parties under the Indian National Congress banner. Around 900 million people will vote at nearly one million polling stations over five weeks

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Narendra Modi
Leader of Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP)

Rahul Gandhi
Leader of Indian National Congress (INC)

KEY: State (number of seats contested)

PUNJAB (13) 
CHANDIGARH (1) 
HARYANA (10) 
DELHI (7)
RAJASTHAN (25)
GUJARAT (26)
DIU & DAMAN (1)
DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI (1)
WEST BENGAL (42)
MEGHALAYA (1) (2)
GOA (2)
ANDHRA PRADESH (25)
TAMIL NADU (39)
LAKSHADWEEP (1)
MADHYA PRADESH (29)
MANIPUR (2)
MIZORAM (1) 
TRIPURA (2)
NAGALAND
JAMMU AND KASHMIR (6)
HIMACHAL PRADESH (4)
UTTARAKHAND (5)
ARUNACHAL PRADESH (2)
SIKKIM (1)
BIHAR (40)
JHARKHAND (14)
PUDUCHERRY (1)
UTTAR PRADESH (80)
ASSAM (14)
CHHATTISGARH (11)
MAHARASHTRA (48)
TELANGANA (17)
ODISHA (21)
KARNATAKA (28)
KERALA (20)


ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS (1)
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VOTING DATES
Phase 1  Apr 11 
Phase 2  Apr 18 
Phase 3  Apr 23 
Phase 4  Apr 29
Phase 5  May 06 
Phase 6  May 12 
Phase 7  May 19

Counting: May 23
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Lok Sabha (Lower house) 2014 election result
543 seats
BJP: 282 seats – Modi won largest majority by single party in 30 years
INC 44 seats
Others 217 seats


200km 125 miles
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Source: Election Commission of India
Picture: Getty Images, Newscom            © GRAPHIC NEWS