BIG guns get 'inked' in crucial round 7 of polls

BJP leader L K Advani described this year's Lok Sabha polls as the "most remarkable election ever held in the history of India" but parried queries on the prospects of Narendra Modi becoming the prime minister.

Advani, along with his son Jayant and daughter Pratibha Advani, cast his vote at a municipal school in Shahpur area in Ahmedabad west constituency, where the BJP's sitting Member of Parliament Kirit Solanki is locked in a battle with Congress candidate Ishwar Chavda and Aam Aadmi Party nominee J J Mewada.

Advani, who is seeking re-election from Gandhinagar which too went to polls on wednesday, said that he would be happy if the Election Commission succeeds and raised the issue of compulsory voting, of which he has been a strong votary. "I have seen all the elections since 1947. I have seen the first election held in 1952 until now and I can say this is the most remarkable election ever held in the history of the country," the 86-year-old leader said.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Key aide of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, on Wednesday said people were seeing a ray of hope in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate. Addressing the media after casting his vote in Naranpura area of the city, Shah expressed confidence about the BJP's win.

"There is no doubt in saying that 'Ab ki baar Modi sarkar'. People are fed up with Congress. They are seeing a ray of hope in Modi," he said.

"I have been going to different parts of the country ahead of elections and met lakhs of party workers. After meeting them and many other common people, I realised that millions of citizens want to see Modi as India's next prime minister," said Shah, who is the party in-charge of Uttar Pradesh.

To a question on Modi's priorities if he became the PM, Shah claimed, "After Modi becomes PM, all development-related projects in India will be completed in next 10 years."

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Bahujan Samajwadi Party supremo Mayawati dismissed any 'Modi wave' in the country saying it is a media hype and that the saffron party has even managed "astrologers" who are propagating such ideas.

After casting her vote in Lucknow, Mayawati said, "The country is in a mood for change. They want a good government in the centre which works in the interest of people and the country".

"The talk about the wave especially the comments of BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate that there is a BJP wave, is present only in media and opinion polls. Now they have even managed astrologers who are building such air. I do not see any such wave on the ground," she said.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Meanwhile, BJP national president Rajnath Singh defended Ramdev and said that his statements were misinterpreted. "His statements were misinterpreted. He has regretted his statement. After he regretted, the issue doesn't stand", Rajnath told mediapersons in Lucknow.

The BJP President also expressed hope of getting support from the people of Lucknow.

"It is a fact that Lucknow parliamentary seat is Atal Bihari Vajpayee's constituency. I am hopeful that I will get support of people of Lucknow," he said.

Click NEXT to see more photos

Union Minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said if India becomes communal it will be a tragedy for the state. After casting his vote in Srinagar, he said his previous comments which evoked controversy were from his heart.

"Whatever I had said was from my heart. I have never said anything to get votes. I have placed truth before people. People have to see," he told mediapersons.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

As more than 50 camerapersons jostled with each other to take his shot, Narendra Modi was busy clicking his 'selfie' as he stepped out after casting vote at a booth in Gandhinagar.

Taking everyone by surprise, Modi pointed the front facing camera towards him and tried to take a selfie. He apparently couldn't open the camera or couldn't see the screen properly due to direct sunlight. He once again called one of his men and asked him to open the mobile camera.

Finally, Modi managed to take his selfie, where he posed with his inked finger with a replica of his party's symbol lotus. He then posted the selfie on his Twitter account, saying: "I voted, here is my selfie."

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Union Minister Chiranjeevi poses with daughter Srija show their inked finger after casting their votes for Lok Sabha polls in Hyderabad.

Click NEXT to see more photos...

Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan shows his inked finger after casting his vote for Lok Sabha polls in Hyderabad.

Click NEXT to see more photos

Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu poses with his family after casting his vote for Lok Sabha polls in Hyderabad.

...