HYDERABAD: India voted Monday in the fourth round of a seven-week general election, as campaign rhetoric sharpened on economic inequality and religious divisions.
The world’s most populous nation began voting on April 19 in a seven-phase election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to vote, and ballots will be counted on June 4.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is running for a rare third term in a vote that pits the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BHJ) against an alliance of more than 20 opposition parties, including the Congress, its main rival.
“I urge everyone to vote for a decisive government,” Modi’s top aide and home minister Amit Shah said as voting began.
As of Monday, 177 million people are eligible to vote in 96 constituencies in 10 states and territories. Most of the seats are in southern and eastern Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, where it is not as strong as other states.
With low turnout in the first three rounds of elections, concern has grown that voters are showing interest in elections without a strong, central issue. The effect of hot weather on voting was monitored by temperatures of 40 degrees or higher in many parts of the country.
The low turnout has raised doubts about whether the BJP and its allies can overcome the projected slide in the polls.
The low turnout has prompted Modi’s campaign to shift its focus from the economic record to accusing the Congress of making plans to improve the welfare of minority Muslims, analysts said.
The Congress rejected such a promise and said it had taken the votes of the voters.
About 80% of India’s population of 1.4 billion are Indians, but with a population of 200 million, it is the third largest in the world. Polls show voters are worried about unemployment and rising prices.
