The outcome of Friday’s voting across 88 constituencies in 13 states with 160 million voters will be crucial for the BJP as it includes some of its strongholds.

Muslims worry Modi’s party will rely on familiar tactics of drawing on religious divisions as it battles Congress to to retain seats in Karnataka

India voted on Friday in the second phase of the world's biggest election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his rivals raise the pitch of the campaign by focusing on hot-button issues such as religious discrimination,

Voting has already started in the biggest election the world has ever seen. Lasting for more than two months, nearly one billon adults are able to choose who they want in charge of the country for the next five years. From huge cities to tiny villages, at least one polling booth is set up within two kilometres of every eligible voter.

STORY: The campaign has become more heated since the first phase of voting on April 19 as Modi and the main opposition Congress party have faced off on communal issues with Modi accusing Congress of favoring minority Muslims,