How India votes
When the world’s largest democracy goes to the polls from April 7 to May 12 the logistics are mind-boggling. Over 800 million voters will choose their representatives for the national parliament in New Delhi.
The front-runner
The latest polls suggest that Gujarat State Chief Minister Narendra Modi may be on his way to becoming India's next premier. In the face of such a possible outcome, Washington is seeking to fix relations with the Hindu nationalist leader, after boycotting him for years due to his alleged role in the anti-Muslim riots of 2002 in Gujarat. The Europeans have already fallen into line.
A reluctant leader
Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party's longest-serving chief, has now handed over the reins of power to her son, Rahul Gandhi. He is the great grandson of India's first premier, the grandson of its first woman PM and the son of its youngest PM. But since he emerged on the political stage 10 years ago, the scion of the first family of Indian politics appears reluctant to take on a 'bigger role.'
Anti-corruption crusader
The chief of the new anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Arvind Kejriwal, made his electoral debut in December 2013. After an impressive result in the poll, he became New Delhi's Chief Minister, but resigned after just 49 days. The bureaucrat turned social worker turned politician, is challenging Hindu-nationalist leader Narendra Modi in the eastern Indian constituency of Varanasi.
The kingmakers
Four left-wing and seven regional parties have joined forces to form the 'Third Front' which hopes to pose a serious challenge to the Congress and the BJP. The Third Front, currently the third largest grouping in the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of Parliament), aims to offer voters an alternative to the two national outfits. In the event of a hung parliament, this front would become the kingmaker.
The 'social network' effect
The use of social media sites in election campaigns is witnessing a new high. There are more than 100 million first-time voters on the electoral rolls this time. Forty percent of them hail from urban areas and are already active on social media sites. It is this combination of young voters, social media and the rise in the number of urban constituencies which makes this election quite unique.
Voting by machine
In the five weeks of polling, Indian voters will cast their votes to choose representatives in the 545 seat Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament. Since 1998, electronic voting machines - initially on an experimental basis - have been used to record the votes cast and speed up the counting process. The results of the current general election will be known on May 16.
Minorities matter
India's Muslims make up about 13 percent of the inhabitants of the Hindu majority nation. Muslim voters play a major role in deciding who will win more than a fifth of total parliamentary seats. Hindu nationalist leader Modi is trying to overcome the popular perception of him as an anti-Muslim politician while the Congress Party is trying to win them over with its traditionally secular manifesto.
The 'NaMo' wave
As the leader of the state of Gujarat for more than a decade, Modi has transformed it into an economic powerhouse, attracting investment from around the world. His economic vision is proven in practice and he stresses a pro-business approach. On the other hand, Congress seeks to promote inclusive growth through a host of welfare schemes. No wonder big business is backing Modi.
Government of the people
Members of the Indian Parliament, the top legislative body in the country, usually serve five-year terms. It has two houses called the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) and the Lower House (Lok Sabha). The party or coalition that earns a majority of seats in the lower house will select the country`s next prime minister.