INDIA DEPLOYS MATERIALS FOR FRIDAY’S GENERAL ELECTIONS

As India gears up to vote in a seven-phase general election on Friday, the world’s most populous nation entered the final stage of preparations on Thursday.

Polling officials were dispatched with voting equipment that included Electronic Voting Machines, ballot boxes, control units and other essential documents required to set up polling booths across electoral constituencies.

In conflict-ridden northeastern Manipur state, surveillance cameras are being set up to monitor the polling stations for a secure election.

Conflict in the state first broke out over the potential extension of affirmative action rights available to the Kuki people, who form 16 per cent of the state’s population, to the dismay of the majority of Meiteis, who make up 53 per cent.