India Celebrates 'Festival Of Democracy' With Third Phase Of Lok Sabha Election

With today's third round of voting, India's seven-part elections hit Prime Time. Rahul Gandhi and Amit Shah - bosses of two of the largest parties going up against each other - were on the ballot today, besides a slew of heavyweights. More than 18 crore voters in 13 states and two union territories, including all of Gujarat, Kerala and half of Karnataka, lined up to decide their fate. While many of the contenders were considered too big to have a real challenge on their hands, the Indian electorate has always reserved a surprise or two for the pundits.

In Gujarat, a polling booth was set up in Gir Forest for just one voter in Junagadh. The voter, Bharatdas Bapu, said, "The government spends money for this polling booth for one vote. I've voted and it's a 100% voter turnout here. For a 100% voter turnout everywhere, I request all to go and vote."

A man carried his 87-year-old mother to the polling booth in Kotwali Primary Junior Basic School in West Bengal's Malda.
A specially-abled man cast his vote at the polling booth in Government Primary School, IRC village, in Odisha's Bhubaneswar.
A bride cast her vote at a polling station in Maharashtra's Pune ahead of her wedding. Ms Shraddha said, "It is our national duty. I felt a little nervous but I liked it".

Swaminarayan saints after casting their votes at a polling station, during the third phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019, in Gujarat's Ahmedabad.
Young voters show their inked marked finger after casting vote, during the third phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, at a polling station in Assam's Guwahati.
Young voters take a selfie as they pose with their fingers marked with indelible ink at a polling station after casting votes for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Kerala's Kozhikode.

Two vertically challenged persons show their fingers marked with indelible ink at a polling station after casting votes for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Gujarat's Ahmedabad.