FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 06

Facts and figures Here’s what you need to know about the biggest election in India’s incredible history: Who votes? ll Indians over 18 years of age are eligible to vote. A That is roughly 900 million of India’s 1.3 billion people, according to the Election Commission, the body tasked with election begins overseeing the monumental endeavour. Eighty-four million first-time voters were added to the elec- toral roll since the last poll in 2014. A little less than half of the eligible voters are women, while 300 million are illiterate. Some 39,000 identify as transgender. Since 2010, Indian citizens abroad have also been allowed to vote.

Who contests? here are close to 2,300 political parties registered in India T-- but only seven are recognised at a national level and 59 at a state level. In the last election, several hundred parties fielded more than 8,000 candidates for the lower house of parliament, where 543 seats are up for grabs. Prime Minister ’s Bharatiya (BJP), and the opposition Congress party of his main rival Rahul Gandhi, dominate the political landscape. But minor parties play a critical role in the event of a hung parliament, as the major players seek coalitions to form gov- ernment. Winners are decided by a first past the post system, so the candidate with the most votes in each seat is elected.

Indian voters queue to cast their ballots at a polling station during India’s general election in Purandudam village, some 140 km from Guwahati, the capital city of Mammoth task India’s northeastern state of Assam he election stretches nearly six weeks, with voting held Tin seven different phases to ensure all polling booths are prepared and security is in place. Around 10 million officials will enforce the election rules, including that no voter has to travel more than two kilometres to cast their ballot. This creates some near absurd scenarios. This year, a nearly 20-strong team of election and police officials will trek into the jungle to set up a polling booth for a single voter in India’s remote Arunachal Pradesh state.

How to vote? otes are cast via electronic voting machines, first trialled Vin India in 1982. This year millions of machines will be deployed -- some taken by camel and helicopter -- to hard-to-reach electorates. EVMs are battery powered and resemble a briefcase. Despite allegations of hacking, India’s Election Commission says there is no proof of tampering in the past. This year, a receipt will be printed every time a voter casts a ballot, and the slips collected in a sealed box. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents the party president Rahul Gandhi (L) and his sister Each voter’s index finger on the left hand is then marked with election manifesto Priyanka Gandhi (R) wave during a roadshow an indelible blue ink -- manufactured in a single Indian city in the country’s south -- to ensure they don’t vote twice. AFP | New Delhi, India pected Maoist rebels on Tues- with the biggest landslide in 30 dia’s showdown with Pakistan day, insurgents were blamed for years. in February gave Modi’s stand- ens of millions of Indi- two voting day blasts in Maha- The BJP has put Modi left, ing a new boost. ans joined nationwide rashtra state, where two police right and centre of its cam - Victory day queues yesterday to give were injured, and one in Chhat- paign to secure a second five ‘Empty suit’ he final day of voting is May 19, with the results declared Ttheir verdict on nationalist tisgarh state. year term. Gandhi, great-grandson, Tfour days later once counting for all 543 constituencies is prime minister Narendra Modi Thousands of candidates “Each (BJP) candidate con- grandson and son of three past complete. as the world’s biggest election from more than 2,000 parties testing across India represents premiers, has grown in stature There could be a slight delay, as the Supreme Court has started. are running for office in the sev- a miniature version of Modi. since being derided in leaked US ordered a random inspection of EVM results against the paper Election officials reported en separate days of voting in We are fighting not with our diplomatic cables in 2007 as an receipts collected from some polling stations. a heavy turnout across the 20 543 constituencies up to May name. We are fighting with the “empty suit”. In the case of a clear mandate, the results can be determined states taking part in the first day 19. Final results will be released name of our Supreme Leader, But Modi and the BJP’s cam- by noon. But if no one party gets a majority, it could take days of the massive exercise which on May 23. Narendra Modi,” national party paign juggernaut -- he has been for a new government to take shape. involves 900 million eligible Some 1.1 million electronic spokesman Sambit Patra said addressing three rallies a day in In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats, 10 above what is needed, to voters and will take nearly six voting machines are being taken ahead of voting. the run-up to voting -- will be no form the first majority government in three decades. weeks to complete. around the country, with some “I want a government that pushover, promising a $1.4-tril- While the 68-year-old Modi transported through jungles and thinks about women and brings lion infrastructure blitz if he remains popular because of his carried up mountains, including down the high prices of rice and wins. tough stance on national secu- to a hamlet near the Chinese lentils,” said Suman Sharma, 50, Playing to its Hindu base, the rity, he is under pressure over border with just one voter. a housewife in Ghaziabad near BJP has committed to building unemployment and controver- About 142 million people Delhi. a grand temple in place of a sial economic reforms. were eligible for the first day Rahul Gandhi, leader of Muslim mosque demolished by Insults and fake news have of voting. the opposition Congress par- Hindu mobs in the northern city surged on social media in the In the northeastern state of ty and latest member of his of Ayodhya in 1992. run-up to the poll as Modi’s Assam, queues started forming family dynasty hoping to be - India’s latest military alterca- right wing Bharatiya Janata Par- well before voting opened, in- come prime minister, accused tion with arch-rival Pakistan in ty (BJP) and the opposition Con- cluding many of the 84 million Modi of causing a “national February has allowed Modi to gress party stake rival claims. first-time voters who could play disaster”. portray himself as the nation’s On the ground, security a decisive role in the outcome. “No JOBS. DEMONETISA- “chowkidar” (“watchman”). forces were on high alert and “It’s a great feeling to cast the TION. Farmers in Pain... Lies. The few opinion polls have three members of rival region- vote, which makes me a part Lies. Lies. Distrust. Violence. given him the advantage but al parties were killed in clash- of the democratic system and HATE. Fear,” Gandhi tweeted on they are notoriously unreliable es outside polling stations in makes me responsible for elect- Thursday. in India and much will depend the southern state of Andhra ing a good leader,” Anurag Baru- “You vote today for the soul on the BJP’s performance in key Pradesh. ah, 23, said. of India. For her future. Vote states such as Uttar Pradesh, After five people including a wisely.” the most populous state, where local lawmaker were killed by a Supreme Leader His party won three key state it won most of the 80 seats Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and other election-related roadside bomb planted by sus- Modi swept to power in 2014 elections in December but In- in 2014. material are prepared at a distribution centre in Noida