Summary

  1. With 900 million eligible voters, the election for India’s lower house of parliament was the largest vote the world had seen
  2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP is battling the Congress party of Rahul Gandhi and powerful regional parties
  3. More than 2,000 parties and 8,000 candidates are contesting 543 seats. A party or coalition needs at least 272 MPs to form a government
  4. This election is being seen as a referendum on Mr Modi, a polarising figure adored by many but also blamed for divisions
  5. Results will be released in phases and a picture of who is winning could emerge in hours depending on how close the race is