Development, democracy dominate debate in India’s mammoth election
Voice of America
Supporters attend an election rally addressed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, M. K. Stalin, ahead of country's general elections, on the outskirts of southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. Large cutout portraits of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Indian National Congress (INC) leaders are erected overseeing political supporters during an election campaign rally, Chennai, April 15, 2024. Large cutout portraits of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are displayed along the route as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan rides on top of a vehicle during a roadshow, Chennai, April 14, 2024.
Nearly a billion Indians will be eligible to start voting Friday in the world’s biggest election, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term in office.
FILE - Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi, right, and Elaheh Mohammadi flash the victory sign after being released from prison on Jan. 14, 2024, in Tehran, having been released on bail pending an appeal. Iran's courts announced on Feb. 11, 2025, that the two have been pardoned.
FILE - A man types on a computer keyboard in Warsaw, in this Feb. 28, 2013, illustration photo.
FILE - A security officer walks in Balidhidin village in Puntland's Bari region, Somalia, on Jan. 26, 2025. Somali officials said on Feb. 11, 2025, that an Islamic State terror attack on a Puntland military base the night before killed almost 100 people.
FILE - President Donald Trump shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Feb. 25, 2020.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the briefing with President of the European Investment Bank Nadia Calvino in Kyiv, Feb. 10, 2025.
Relatives and supporters of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip protest outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Feb. 11, 2025.
FILE - A hotel building is damaged in an attack by Islamic State-Khorasan, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 13, 2022.
FILE - A police vehicle is seen parked on a street in Singapore, May 31, 2019.
Destroyed buildings are pictured near Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on Feb. 10, 2025 amid the current ceasefire deal in the war between Israel and Hamas.
This combination of pictures created on Feb. 10, 2025 shows, U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Feb. 3, 2025 and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 19, 2024.
Opposition members of the Italian parliament display placards in Italian reading "Meloni where are you?" during a debate in Rome, Feb. 5, 2025, over the controversial repatriation of Libyan warlord Ossama Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis speaks, announcing his resignation, in Bucharest, Romania, Feb. 10, 2025, in this screen grab from video released by the Romanian Presidency. (Romanian Presidency via Reuters)
Albin Kurti, president of the left-wing Vetevendosje! party, makes statements following results of a parliamentary election, in Pristina, Kosovo, Feb. 9, 2025. Supporters of left-wing Vetevendosje! party celebrate following results of a parliamentary election, in Pristina, Kosovo, Feb. 9, 2025.