NEW DELHI -- Indians in 13 states and federally-governed territories started voting Friday in the second phase of the seven-part general election, with all eyes fixed on politically crucial states that will play a key role in the formation of the next government.
More than 1,200 candidates are in the fray in this phase, in which nearly 90 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, are being contested. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing a rare third straight five-year term in power in the South Asian country. Voting will run through June 1, and the tallying of ballots will be on June 4.
