Indian elections open as 900 million voters give their verdict on Narendra Modi

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India begins the biggest election of all time as around 140 million vote across 18 states in the first phase of the polls set to last around six weeks.

Ninety-one seats will be decided today, out of a total of 543 in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, with all results due on May 23, after the final phase of voting finishes. In total 900 million people will vote.

Violence was reported in several states, with one person dead, after clashes and explosions were evident round the states of Maharashtra in the west, and Andhra Pradesh in the south.

Electronic voting machines were also said to be not working in several areas, leading to outbursts of anger.  

The victim of the clash was a supporter of the ruling Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh and was reportedly killed during a brawl with rival party supporters.

Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are seeking a second term in power with a campaign that has revolved largely around national security, along with promises of development, farm relief and welfare measures.

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At the forefront of the opposition is a rejuvenated Congress Party led by Rahul Gandhi, who accuses the government of corruption and being weak on the economy.

Congress complained to officials over security after a green laser was pointed seven times at Mr Gandhi’s head when he was speaking with reporters, saying it could have come from a rifle. Police are investigating.

Opinion polls favour Mr Modi even though he has been attacked by the opposition over the state of the economy, failure to create jobs he promised and the crisis in the farm sector.

The BJP-led government has been criticised for failing to control Right-wing fringe groups and rein in so-called "cow vigilantes" that have gone on overdrive, leading to multiple instances of mob killings across the country.

The BJP manifesto, announced three days ahead of the election, promises around around £230 million for the farm sector and rural development, lower taxes for the middle class and billions on infrastructure to create much-needed jobs.  

The states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Telangana are voting today in a single phase.

Voting is also being held in parts of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.