India's marathon election ends

[Coventina]

Source: CNN

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- The fifth and final phase of India's marathon general election to choose a federal government ended Wednesday.

Home to about 714 million voters, India is now due to hold a single-day vote count Saturday for 543 seats in the lower house of its parliament.

India's election commission spokesman Rajesh Malhotra told CNN that a 62 percent voter turnout was recorded in the last phase of polling Wednesday.

Voting in the month-long exercise was spread across 28 states and seven federal territories.

Stock markets closed 138.4 points down -- as voting drew to a close Wednesday -- apparently over fears of political uncertainty ahead.





Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/13/india.election/