Modi remains popular across much of India, and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely expected to win the poll when it concludes early next month. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. But voters are expected to back one of two established Kashmiri political parties calling for the Modi government's changes to be reversed. More than 968 million people are eligible to vote in India's election, with the final round of polling on June 1 and results expected three days later. Analysts have blamed widespread expectations that Modi will easily win a third term and hotter-than-average temperatures heading into the summer.

Source: Manila Times May 13, 2024 16:18 UTC