India begins second phase of national elections with Modi’s BJP as front-runner

Elderly voters sit as others stand in a queue to vote during the second round of voting in the six-week-long national election near Palakkad, India (Manish Swarup/AP)

Millions of Indians have begun voting in the second round of multi-phase national elections, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to galvanise voters with his assertive brand of Hindu nationalist politics.

People lined up outside polling stations as voting opened at 7am on Friday.