Voting begins in fourth phase of India's general election

The fourth phase of India's general elections commenced on Monday, as the country's richest families and Bollywood stars come out to exercise their right.

Voters have started casting their ballots for 71 parliamentary constituencies across nine states, which include five seats in Bihar, 17 in Maharashtra, 13 in Rajasthan, 13 in Uttar Pradesh, six in Odisha, six in Madhya Pradesh, eight in West Bengal, three in Jharkhand and one in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Many of the constituencies are in Uttar Pradesh state in the north and western India’s Maharashtra, where the financial capital Mumbai is located. Uttar Pradesh elects the most MPs, with Maharashtra next and both states are ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mumbai is also the home to the Hindi film industry, as well as Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, and India’s richest banker, Uday Kotak. Actors Anupam Kher, Sonali Bendre, Priyanka Chopra, Dia Mirza, Amir Khan,Urmila Mataondkar, Rekha and Singer Shankar Mahadevan are some of the Bollywood biggies who have cast their votes in this phase.

The BJP has high stakes in this phase of the country's elections. Of the 72 seats going to polls, it won 45 in 2014, Hindustan Times reported.

The third phase of elections were held on April 23 and included the home turfs of Modi and Rahul Gandhi.

India’s general election began on April 11 and has seven phases. The voting in all seven phases will end on May 19. Votes will be counted on May 23 and the result will also be announced on the same day.