NEW DELHI (AP) — Every five years, the world’s most populous democracy holds a giant election for millions of Indians to cast their vote on a new parliament.
And it does so in its usual flamboyance — with a spectacle of dance, drumbeats and firecrackers echoing across India as candidates march in processions to canvass for votes.
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NEW DELHI (AP) — Every five years, the world’s most populous democracy holds a giant election for millions of Indians to cast their vote on a new parliament.
Women do rituals as they welcome Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate Thamizhachi Thangapandian, left, riding on top of a auto rickshaw during a roadshow ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A young Muslim boy waves as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate Dayanidhi Maran's roadshow passes through a residential area ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A woman showers flower petals as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate Dayanidhi Maran, center, rides on top of a vehicle during a roadshow ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Supporters shout slogans as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan, center, brandishes a sword presented to her during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A tea garden worker pastes a Bharatiya Janata Party poster on to a tree ahead of national elections in Marioni in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
India's Congress party supporters take part in a bike rally during a road show of leader Priyanka Gandhi ahead of the first phase of national elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Chandra Saora, 45, a tea garden supervisor, campaigns for the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the first phase of national elections in Marioni in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Large cutout portraits of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are displayed along the route as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan rides on top of a vehicle during a roadshow ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party ride an auto rickshaw during a roadshow in support of their candidate Vinoj Selvam during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
People watch as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate Dayanidhi Maran's roadshow passes through a residential area ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, center, greets as she walks with tribal people during an election campaign rally for the national elections, in Siliguri, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024.(AP Photo/Diptendu Dutta)
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, M. K. Stalin, center, greets his supporters as he arrives to address them during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Supporters attend an election rally addressed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, M. K. Stalin, ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Tea garden laborers walk to deposit their pluck after attending a Bharatiya Janata Party election campaign meeting ahead of general elections in Marioni in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Members of a local band wait next to a large cutout portrait of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan as they wait for her arrival for an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Security people stand guard on the top of a building during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign for the upcoming national elections in Ghaziabad, India, April 6, 2024. India is in election mode with colorful, and frenzied, campaign underway by various political parties to woo voters across the country. From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians or over 10% of the global population are eligible to vote in India's general election. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)
India's Congress party supporters take part in a bike rally during an election campaign ahead of national elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
India's Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi waves during a road show as she campaigns for the upcoming national elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Portraits of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party leaders and Indian National Congress (INC) leaders and other merchandise is for sale at an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wear Indian prime Minister Narendra Modi masks during an election campaign in Ghaziabad, India, April 6, 2024. India is in election mode with colorful, and frenzied, campaign underway by various political parties to woo voters across the country. From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians or over 10% of the global population are eligible to vote in India's general election. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)
Women supporters of the Congress party campaign for the upcoming national elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party leader M. K. Stalin, speaks on a stage resembling Indian parliament building during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
India's Congress party workers shout slogans during an election campaign rally ahead of the first phase of general elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center in a saffron cap, and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, in saffron robes, ride in an open vehicle as they campaign for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ghaziabad, India, April 6, 2024.India is in election mode with colorful, and frenzied, campaign underway by various political parties to woo voters across the country. From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians or over 10% of the global population are eligible to vote in India's general election. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)
Large cutout portraits of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Indian National Congress (INC) leaders are erected overseeing political supporters during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Colorful convoys of motorbikes, jeeps and autorickshaws have been navigating narrow streets in cities and towns as people line up to glimpse the contestants.
The six-week national election will start Friday with polling scheduled in 21 states in the first phase.
From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians — or over 10% of the global population — are eligible to vote to elect a total of 543 lawmakers in the lower house of parliament.
Among the states voting on Friday is southern Tamil Nadu, where mega cardboard cutouts of political leaders are a common sight during the election season.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has been trying to make inroads in the state where regional parties have dominated for decades. Among the issues dominating the campaign are the rising cost of living, corruption, federalism and minority rights.
The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party is hoping to retain its influence. In the 2019 elections, DMK won 38 out of 39 parliamentary seats in Tamil Nadu.
DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has been campaigning for his party, which is part of the opposition INDIA alliance aiming to unseat Modi and to weaken his government’s increasingly powerful sway. The acronym INDIA, which stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, includes the main opposition Congress party.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi, has been campaigning in eastern Assam state where some districts will go to the polls in the first phase.
In neighboring West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress party led by the state chief minister Mamata Banerjee is facing a stiff challenge from the BJP. In the districts voting Friday, the campaign has centered around the distress of tea garden workers, who are demanding higher wages.
Modi has been travelling extensively across the country, holding road shows and rallies to campaign for the local BJP candidates, and promising voters that his party will make India a ‘developed nation’ by 2047.
Modi and BJP are widely expected to return to power for a third term. The results will be announced on June 4.
People wait at a crossroad to cheer Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election campaign of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming national elections in Ghaziabad, India, April 6, 2024. India is in election mode with colorful, and frenzied, campaign underway by various political parties to woo voters across the country. From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians or over 10% of the global population are eligible to vote in India's general election. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)
Women do rituals as they welcome Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate Thamizhachi Thangapandian, left, riding on top of a auto rickshaw during a roadshow ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A young Muslim boy waves as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate Dayanidhi Maran's roadshow passes through a residential area ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A woman showers flower petals as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate Dayanidhi Maran, center, rides on top of a vehicle during a roadshow ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Supporters shout slogans as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan, center, brandishes a sword presented to her during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A tea garden worker pastes a Bharatiya Janata Party poster on to a tree ahead of national elections in Marioni in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
India's Congress party supporters take part in a bike rally during a road show of leader Priyanka Gandhi ahead of the first phase of national elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Chandra Saora, 45, a tea garden supervisor, campaigns for the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the first phase of national elections in Marioni in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Large cutout portraits of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are displayed along the route as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan rides on top of a vehicle during a roadshow ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party ride an auto rickshaw during a roadshow in support of their candidate Vinoj Selvam during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
People watch as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party candidate Dayanidhi Maran's roadshow passes through a residential area ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, center, greets as she walks with tribal people during an election campaign rally for the national elections, in Siliguri, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024.(AP Photo/Diptendu Dutta)
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, M. K. Stalin, center, greets his supporters as he arrives to address them during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Supporters attend an election rally addressed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, M. K. Stalin, ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Tea garden laborers walk to deposit their pluck after attending a Bharatiya Janata Party election campaign meeting ahead of general elections in Marioni in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Members of a local band wait next to a large cutout portrait of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan as they wait for her arrival for an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Security people stand guard on the top of a building during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign for the upcoming national elections in Ghaziabad, India, April 6, 2024. India is in election mode with colorful, and frenzied, campaign underway by various political parties to woo voters across the country. From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians or over 10% of the global population are eligible to vote in India's general election. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)
India's Congress party supporters take part in a bike rally during an election campaign ahead of national elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
India's Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi waves during a road show as she campaigns for the upcoming national elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Portraits of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party leaders and Indian National Congress (INC) leaders and other merchandise is for sale at an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wear Indian prime Minister Narendra Modi masks during an election campaign in Ghaziabad, India, April 6, 2024. India is in election mode with colorful, and frenzied, campaign underway by various political parties to woo voters across the country. From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians or over 10% of the global population are eligible to vote in India's general election. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)
Women supporters of the Congress party campaign for the upcoming national elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party leader M. K. Stalin, speaks on a stage resembling Indian parliament building during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
India's Congress party workers shout slogans during an election campaign rally ahead of the first phase of general elections in Titabor in upper Assam, India, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center in a saffron cap, and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, in saffron robes, ride in an open vehicle as they campaign for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ghaziabad, India, April 6, 2024.India is in election mode with colorful, and frenzied, campaign underway by various political parties to woo voters across the country. From April 19 to June 1, nearly 970 million Indians or over 10% of the global population are eligible to vote in India's general election. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)
Large cutout portraits of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Indian National Congress (INC) leaders are erected overseeing political supporters during an election campaign rally ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
