India’s Mammoth General Election Continues with Phase 5 Voting

India’s marathon general election, the world’s largest with nearly 970 million eligible voters, is ongoing. On Monday, the fifth phase of voting took place, with 89.5 million voters in six states and two union territories deciding the fate of 49 parliamentary seats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a rare third term, facing a coalition of 26 opposition parties led by the Congress party’s Rahul Gandhi. Key battlegrounds include the Gandhi family strongholds of Rae Bareli and Amethi, where Gandhi is contesting alongside BJP minister Smriti Irani.

The election has also seen voters in the union territory of Ladakh demanding statehood and protection for their Buddhist and Muslim communities.

With results set to be announced on June 4th, the world’s largest democratic exercise remains a high-stakes political contest.