A number of exit polls are suggesting that the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, is on course to win the general election. The BJP dominated the campaign but analysts warn that exit polls have often been wrong in the past.

The main contest in the vote is between the ruling Congress and the BJP. Polls ended on the final day of voting on Monday, May 12th, 2014 and votes will be counted on the 16th of the month. Voter turnout was a record 66.38%, according to the Election Commission. This year’s election began on the 7th of April and has been held in nine phases for security and logistical reasons. CCTV’s Shweta Bajaj reports from one of the last places to vote: the historic city of Varanasi.

India Votes in Final Phase of Election

Enthusiasm in India is high. A record number of people voted in the election, some 540 million of them. CCTV's Shweta Bajaj is in one of the last places to vote, the historic city of Vara-nasi.

Sumit Ganguly, Chairman of Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University, joins CCTV’s Elaine Reyes to discuss the general election in India.

Interview with Sumit Ganguly on Indian Election

Sumit Ganguly, the Chairmanof Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University, joined CCTV's discussion.