The people of India are heading to the polls today in the first phase of India’s general election, with 543 seats in the lower house up for contest.
The election is both the largest and most expensive in the world, with almost $10 billion dollars spent in advertising to 900 million eligible voters, and with 11 million election officials to be deployed at polling stations.
Key issues in this election include an unimproved 7% unemployment rate, farmer’s rights and declining commodity prices and ongoing tensions with Pakistan in the disputed region of Kashmir.
The elections will be carried out in seven phases, with final results expected on the 23rd of May.