Indian elections the way it happened

Around 930,000 polling stations were set up for the month-long election using electronic voting machines, first introduced in 2004. Seen here: Pappu Yadav in an open jeep. Photo: Facebook

UP had most eligible voters (134 million); Sikkim the lowest (about 362,000). Male voters constituted 52.4% of the electorate but women voters outnumbered men in eight regions — Puducherry, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram, Daman & Diu, Meghalaya, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh. Seen here: BJP candidate Hema Malini on campaign trail in Mathura.

About 23 million eligible voters were enrolled in the 18 to 19 age group, nearly 3 percent of India’s voters. Seen here: Voters wait in line outside a polling station in Dibrugarh.

Of India’s 814.5 million eligible voters, 28,314 identified themselves as transgender and their gender was listed as “other”. 11,844 NRIs registered to vote in the election this year. seen here: Spiderman Gaurav Sharma (Independent candidate) waves to children during his campaign in Mumbai.

Since introducing photo voter ID cards and electoral rolls in 2009, 98 percent of India’s eligible voters have the former, 96 percent have the latter. Seen here: Snap-on mobile phone covers featuring party symbols, photos and messages of various Indian political parties flooded the market.

India's four northeastern states witnessed brisk polling in the Lok Sabha election, with Nagaland recording 82.5 percent voter turnout and Manipur as well as Arunachal Pradesh seeing around 70 percent balloting. Meghalaya saw almost two-thirds of its voters turn up.

Electronic voting machine security included: transported under armed escort and stored in strong rooms, with a double lock system and guarded 24×7 by armed police, and CCTV coverage. Also, parties/candidates were allowed to keep a watch on them. Seen here: A boy dives into the Arabian Sea in Mumbai.

A candidate could spend up to 7 million rupees for his election campaign in Delhi and all states except Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim. For these states and other union territories, the limit is 5.4 million rupees. Seen here: Watching an election rally.

A candidate for the Lok Sabha makes a deposit of 25,000 rupees at the time of filing the nomination. If the candidate fails to get a sixth of the total valid votes polled, this amount is forfeited. Nearly 85 percent of the candidates lost their security deposit in the 2009 election. Seen here: A Modi supporter.

Malkajgiri in Andhra Pradesh was biggest constituency in terms of voters with around 2.95 million electors; Lakshadweep the smallest with 47,972 voters. In Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, Hukani polling station had 22 registered voters. Officials travel 22 km on foot to get there.

In the 2009 election, 363 political parties took part. The Bahujan Samaj Party contested the maximum number of seats (500 out of 543), followed by the Congress (440) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (433).

The last general election had a voter turnout of over 58 percent. Nagaland (89.99 percent) had the highest turnout while Jammu & Kashmir (39.68 percent) saw the lowest. In 2014: 66.38 percent. Seen here: Narendra Modi addresses a rally.

“Basic Minimum Facilities” for polling stations included drinking water, shed, toilet, ramp for disabled voters. Seen here: A groom showing his inked finger during his wedding.

Voters had a “None of the Above” option on voting machines this time. Seen here: YSRC leader Sharmila at an election campaign meeting in Rampachodavaram Rajamundri.

The indelible election ink that is applied while electors cast their votes is manufactured by Mysore Paints & Varnish Limited, a Karnataka government undertaking. Seen here: Priests pose for photograph after casting their votes.

Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged as the favourite in opinion and exit polls, which reflect waning support for Rahul Gandhi’s Congress party that wrested power from the BJP in 2004.

In the 15th Lok Sabha, around 78 percent of the members have a graduate, post-graduate degree or a doctorate. Seen here: Whoa! Nothing can justify the pictures pasted all over the building.

If it falls short of a majority, BJP is looking at support from all quarters. Seen here: A supporter holds a mask of Narendra Modi during a political rally in Robertsganj.

Also in the race is Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, which made a stunning debut in Delhi elections last year and is now eyeing a national presence on the anti-corruption plank. Seen here: Children wave to Rahul Gandhi during an election rally in Varanasi.

A woman washes clothes beneath a promotional hoarding of a television channel’s election coverage in New Delhi.

Will BJP come to power?