India election latest: Several injured as VIOLENT CLASHES hit streets – latest results

India is in the middle of national elections to decide the next 543 seats of Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. With 900 million voters eligible to cast a ballot paper – out of a total population of 1.3 billion – the elections have to be staggered. The latest phase of democratic elections in Indian is the fourth phase of a seven-stage process. But they were marred by street clashes between rival voters broken up by security forces firing warning shots.

At least seven people were injured in the skirmishes in West Bengal’s Dubrajpur area after voters were barred from taking in mobile phones to polling stations.

Last week saw one person die and three others injured in West Bengal during the third phase of voting.

A junior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party, Babul Supriyo also said his car was attacked by rival voters outside a polling station in West Bengal’s Asansol district.

He said he had been refused entry by the same group of people.

Who is expected to win?

Votes are being held in 91 parliament constituencies across 20 states and federally-administered regions.

The election will decide whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Jana Party (BJP) remains in power.

His party won a landslide victory in 2014 but is facing a major test from the Congress Party led by Rahul Gandhi this time around.

Mr Modi has been challenged on allegations of corruption within his government.

His party is also under attack on its record of high unemployment and a lack of jobs being created.

The Congress Party scored major victories in December.

It wrested control from BJP in three key states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were among the nine states voting on Monday.

With three phases of voting to go, polling stations will not officially shut until May 19.

The results are expected to be declared on May 23.

Surveys show BJP is projected to win but with a much smaller mandate.

source: express.co.uk