India Voting Begins With 50% Turnout

Frustrated by a series of failed governments, barely half the eligible voters turned out Monday to choose India’s new Parliament in elections marred by at least 22 deaths.

Another 70 people were injured by land mines, in fights between rival political groups or in ambushes by rebels trying to disrupt the vote, held three years ahead of schedule. Still, Monday’s violence was not unusual in a democracy that endures despite sharp differences among its people.

Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill called the balloting “largely a peaceful exercise” given its scale: 222 seats of the 545-member lower house of Parliament--the Lok Sabha--were being decided in the first of six days of balloting staggered by region.

About 250 million people were eligible to vote Monday. Election officials estimated turnout at 50%.

After votes are counted in March, the party or coalition that wins a majority of seats nationwide will designate a prime minister. Nearly 5,000 candidates representing scores of parties are vying for 543 Parliament seats, with the other two filled by appointment.

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party was expected to win the most seats--but not the majority needed to govern alone--meaning another divided government.