India prepares for Election

India is set to begin the world’s largest democratic exercise to determine who will lead the country as the global economic slump threatens to undo two decades of growth. The vote on Thursday is the first of five phases that will span a month, in which about 714 million people are eligible to vote. India is the world’s second most populous country, with an estimated population of 1.17 billion, representing 17% of the world population. India’s Kashmir region is reported to be the world’s largest and most militarized territory.