More than 142 million Indians are eligible to vote in the first phase today, of a total of 898.9 million.
Voting today will be held in 91 constituencies across 20 states and federally-administered regions, amid tightened security, stepped up after violence killed seven people on Tuesday.
The alliance led by Modi’s BJP is poised to win a narrow majority of 273 of the 543 seats at stake, an average of four opinion polls showed.
Votes in the seven rounds, spread over 39 days, will be counted on May 23.
At least five transgender candidates are standing in the national election that begins on Thursday in what activists say may be a turning point for the community, historically one of India’s most marginalised.
A 27-year-old transgender knows she is outgunned in the campaign for election to the national parliament.
But she resolved to stand anyway, buoyed by a determination to stick up for the marginalised people that have offered their support, and a growing appetite among her community for participation in politics.
“I am pitted against strong candidates. They come from political families. But I have a connect with my community and those on living on the margins like sex workers, bar dancers and widows of farmers.”
