Indian women out to vote in 15th general elections

Thousands of women were pictured queuing up outside polling stations in the early morning rain as millions of Indians vote in the country's 15th general elections. More than 700 million Indians in 124 constituencies are eligible to vote for seats in the lower house of parliament. Turnout has so far been steady, according to BBC reports out today although proceedings were marred by attacks from Maoist insurgents. The Congress-led coalition government is facing a challenge from the main opposition BJP-led alliance. The two main blocs are also competing against a "third front" of communist and regional parties in a poll that is too close to call.

A massive security operation is in place across India. In the eastern state of Jharkhand six paramilitary soldiers were killed in a landmine blast blamed on Maoist rebels, police said. More than two million security personnel have been deployed, many of them in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, which is voting for both national and state assembly representatives. "We have taken every necessary measure to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. Now you go out and vote," state director general of police AK Mohanty said in the state capital, Hyderabad.

Maoists have attacked polling booths in the states of Orissa and Bihar. The BBC’s correspondent in Delhi says they were isolated incidents in remote rural areas, but still disruptive and carried out to prevent people voting. In Bihar's Gaya district a polling booth was attacked. Two security personnel were killed and two female voters received bullet wounds, locals told the broadcaster. States where voting takes place are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Lakshwadeep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Neither of the two main parties in the election - Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - is expected to gain a clear majority. Both may have to depend on the support of smaller parties to form a government - and correspondents say the campaign rhetoric in recent days has become increasingly bitter.

While security and the economy are key election issues, especially after last year's attacks in Mumbai (Bombay), global economic meltdown and local and regional issues are all expected to be key issues. Results are due on 16 May and a new parliament must be in place by 2 June.

By Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children