WATCH different moods as India prepares for ‘biggest festival of democracy’
While election officials were covering the length and breath of the country, including difficult terrains to ensure that every citizen gets to vote, common people were rushing to their respective places of voting to exercise franchise.
Ram Gaikwad, an independent candidate from Madha constituency in Solapur district of the western state of Maharashtra, rides a buffalo while being dressed as Lord Yama (god of death) during a procession before filing nomination for the general elections on Thursday, April 18, 2024. (PTI Photo)
INDIA, the world’s largest democracy, is all set to stage its 18th general elections. The exercise, lasting 44 days starting Friday (19), will be a mammoth one involving nearly a billion voters to elect their next government. The elections, involving a massive manpower and mobilisation of resources, will continue till June 1 and the results will be announced on June 4.
While prime minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance are looking to retain power by clinching the third successive mandate, the opposition bloc in the name of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is aiming to prevent the Hindu nationalist force from returning to power.
Here are some pictures of the mood prevailing across India as the country gears up for the biggest festival of democracy.