Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ruling coalition said it was “confident” it would secure a majority in Parliament when final election results are counted tomorrow, though exit polls indicated a hung legislature was likely.

India held the fifth and final phase of the world’s largest democratic election today, amid doubts over whether Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be returned to power with a stable government.

Indian exit polls showed tonight that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ruling coalition may fall short of winning a majority of parliament seats after voting in the fourth round of the general election.

India’s Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee flashed a “V” sign for victory as he voted in today’s round of parliamentary elections and expressed confidence he would be returned to office for another five years, despite predictions his coalition might lose seats.

AN opinion poll ahead of today’s penultimate phase of India’s general elections showed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s coalition surging ahead of its rivals, but falling short of a majority in parliament.

An opinion poll ahead of tomorrow’s penultimate phase of India’s general elections showed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s coalition surging ahead of its rivals, but falling short of a majority in parliament.

The Indian stock market went into freefall today after general election exit polls predicted a hung Parliament – which some feared could hurt the current agenda of economic liberalisation.

MILITANTS struck polling sites with grenades, rifles and bombs yesterday as Indians from Goan beaches to Himalayan mountains voted in a crucial third round of elections that will decide the fate of opposition leader Sonia Gandhi and her son, first-time candidate Rahul.

India’s parliamentary elections today entered a crucial third round that will determine the fate of opposition leader Sonia Gandhi and her son, first-time candidate Rahul, the latest member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to enter politics.

At least 11 people died and 18 were injured in violent clashes as Indians started voting today in parliament elections expected to return Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s governing coalition to power for another five years.

Indians braved attacks by separatists and communists as they started voting today in parliament elections expected to return Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s governing coalition to power for another five years.

THE world’s largest democracy begins polling its citizens today from cities to remote Himalayan valleys for parliamentary elections.

The world’s largest democracy starts polling its citizens tomorrow from cities to remote Himalayan valleys for parliamentary elections expected to re-elect the governing coalition thanks to a booming economy and peace prospects with neighbouring Pakistan.

Islamic militants fighting Indian control over Kashmir vowed today they would not halt their insurgency despite an agreement between India and Pakistan to start peace talks that will include their bitter dispute over the divided Himalayan territory.

Pakistan raised the stakes in nascent peace overtures with India today, saying it would destroy its nuclear arsenal if its South Asian rival did the same.

Pakistan made a major peace overture to nuclear rival India today with a telephone call from Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali to his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, state media reported.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was today becoming the first Indian prime minister in 16 years to hold a public rally in troubled Jammu-Kashmir state.

The ruling party won a sweeping victory today in state elections in western India – a landslide that could boost Hindu supremacists in national politics and challenge the nation’s secular traditions.

Indian political parties held street parades today ahead of a crucial election in Gujarat state, where sectarian riots killed more than 1,000 people earlier this year.

INDIA deployed thousands of troops to prevent an eruption of Hindu-Muslim rioting yesterday after gunmen attacked a major Hindu temple complex in a raid that left 32 people dead, most of them worshippers.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today accused India of holding peace hostage in South Asia through its “belligerence” and proposed immediate steps to prevent another war between the nuclear-armed nations.

Despite expectations, both India’s houses of Parliament adjourned today without Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee commenting on Saturday’s attack by suspected Islamic militants that killed 28 civilians in India-controlled Kashmir.

Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said today that India would consider joint monitoring of the disputed Kashmir border with its long-time rival Pakistan.

Opposition parties stalled work in India’s Parliament today, demanding the resignation of Gujarat state’s chief minister for failing to stop the recent bloodshed between Hindus and Muslims.

India's parliament has adjourned in uproar as the deadline approaches for the building of a controversial temple that threatens to cause more sectarian bloodshed.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s party lost elections in four key states, according to near final results released today, in a potentially destabilising blow to his two-year-old national coalition.

Thousands of police were on alert across India’s most populated state today as millions voted in a second round of polling that has already seen gun battles between party supporters.

US President George W Bush today urged Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to take new steps to rein in extremists who threaten to destabilise the United States coalition against terrorism.