The World’s Largest Election Begins

A polling officer helps a woman to cast her vote at a polling station in Majuli, a large river island in the Brahmaputra river, Jorhat district, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, April 7, 2014.
A polling officer helps a woman to cast her vote at a polling station in Majuli, a large river island in the Brahmaputra river, Jorhat district, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, April 7, 2014.Adnan Abidi—Reuters
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A polling officer carries an electronic voting machine on his way to a polling station after arriving from a ferryboat in Nimatighat, Jorhat district, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, April 5, 2014.
A polling officer carries an electronic voting machine on his way to a polling station after arriving from a ferryboat in Nimatighat, Jorhat district, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, April 5, 2014. Adnan Abidi—Reuters
An Indian family listens as Rahul Gandhi, leader of India's ruling Congress Party speaks at a rally on April 6, 2014 in New Delhi.
An Indian family listens as Rahul Gandhi, leader of India's ruling Congress Party speaks at a rally on April 6, 2014 in New Delhi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Supporters hold up cut-outs of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party symbol with images of M.K. Stalin, son and heir-apparent of M. Karunanidhi, chief of DMK during a rally ahead of a general election in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 6, 2014.
Supporters hold up cut-outs of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party symbol with images of M.K. Stalin, son and heir-apparent of M. Karunanidhi, chief of DMK during a rally ahead of a general election in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 6, 2014. Babu—Reuters
Indian voters wait in queues to cast their votes during the first phase of elections in Dibrugarh, in the northeastern state of Assam, India, April 7, 2014.
Indian voters wait in queues to cast their votes during the first phase of elections in Dibrugarh, in the northeastern state of Assam, India, April 7, 2014.Altaf Qadri—AP
A polling officer helps a woman to cast her vote at a polling station in Majuli, a large river island in the Brahmaputra river, Jorhat district, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, April 7, 2014.
A polling officer helps a woman to cast her vote at a polling station in Majuli, a large river island in the Brahmaputra river, Jorhat district, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, April 7, 2014. Adnan Abidi—Reuters
An Indian election officer applies an indelible ink mark on the finger of a woman during the first phase of elections in Dibrugarh, in the northeastern state of Assam, India, April 7, 2014.
An Indian election officer applies an indelible ink mark on the finger of a woman during the first phase of elections in Dibrugarh, in the northeastern state of Assam, India, April 7, 2014. Altaf Qadri—AP
Indian children play at Krishna nagar village on the outskirts of Allahabad, India, April 7, 2014.
Indian children play at Krishna Nagar village on the outskirts of Allahabad, India, April 7, 2014. Rajesh Kumar Singh—AP

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