Modi’s party takes early lead as votes counted in India’s marathon election

900 million people were registered to vote.

Election officials begin counting votes of India’s massive general election (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

By Associated Press Reporter

Prime minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist party were leading in several races as vote counting began on Thursday in India’s massive general elections.

Election Commission data showed the Bharatiya Janata Party leading in contests for 229 seats, with its main rival, the Indian National Congress, ahead in 56 contests.