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Page last updated at 13:48 GMT, Thursday, 16 April 2009 14:48 UK

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Millions of Indians go to polls

Indians are voting in 124 constituencies taking part in the first round of general elections. The five-phase vote runs until 13 May.

Voters began queuing early at many polling stations. More than 700 million Indians overall are eligible to vote.

Women walk towards a polling booth, as a polling agent briefs them at Mehdora village in Mirzapur district

Unlike in many Western democracies, the number of Indians voting has increased with every general election. And poorer people are more likely to vote than the rich.

An Indian policeman gestures as a voter waits her turn to cast her vote at a polling station in Suchit Garh on the outskirts of Jammu

More than two million security personnel have been deployed. Maoist rebels have threatened to disrupt the vote.

A voter uses an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a school building turned polling station in Koderma in Jharkhand state. Electronic vote counting was first used in India during the elections in 2004.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Delhi and former minister Vijay Goyal shows a victory sign as he arrives to file his election nomination papers in the capital.

Congress Party candidate Kapil Sibal, current minister for science and technology and ocean development, with his supporters in Delhi.

An Indian election officer marks the finger of a voter with ink

Two main coalitions are vying for power: the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the main opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA). A "third front" of smaller parties could also play a key role.

Reflecting the diversity of India, tribal women walk out of a polling booth after casting their votes at Rangareddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad in southern India.