Narendra Modi predicts victory after voting in India polls
Voters queue early in 89 constituencies across nine states and territories in the latest leg of staggered voting in the world’s biggest election
Indian front runner for prime minister Narendra Modi predicted defeat for the Gandhi political dynasty as he voted yesterday in his home state in the latest stage of the country's elections.
Voters queued early in 89 constituencies across nine states and territories for the latest stage of staggered voting in the world's biggest election, which ends with results announced on May 16.
Modi, a Hindu nationalist hardliner, voted in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state before taking a selfie of his inked finger and flashing his party's symbol of the lotus flower to crowds.
"After analysing the election process and the voter's mind until now, I can say that this time nothing can save the mother-son government ... a strong government will come to power," said Modi. "All citizens have to take part in the festival and make the democracy stronger."
Modi, 63, ran into trouble with the Election Commission over his actions, which accused him of violating a code of conduct by campaigning in a polling area.
The Congress party, headed by Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, is widely expected to lose to Modi's resurgent opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after a decade in power.