New Delhi: The fifth and final phase of voting was wrapped up on Wednesday. These are the key details of India's national elections that will decide who rules the world's largest democracy for the next five years.
- About 714 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots at more than 828,000 polling stations.
- Overall turnout was 59 to 60 per cent.
- Major political players: Left-of-center Congress party which, since independence from Britain in 1947, has governed India for a total of more than four decades; Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party; Third Front: An alliance of communists, socialists, regional parties and caste-based parties.
- Main campaign issues: No central issues resonated with voters and most campaigning revolved around vague promises of jobs and prosperity.
- First phase of voting, April 16: 143 million eligible voters; voter turnout 60 per cent.
- Second phase, April 23: 19.4 million eligible voters; voter turnout 55 per cent.
- Third phase, April 30: 144 million eligible voters; voter turnout 52 per cent.
- Fourth phase, May 7: 9.46 million eligible voters; voter turnout 57 per cent.
- Fifth phase, May 13: 108 million eligible voters; voter turnout nearly 62 per cent.
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