Voting is being held in India to elect a new president.
The front-runner is a former state governor and Dalit (formerly untouchable) leader, Ram Nath Kovind.
He is being challenged by opposition candidate and India's first woman speaker Meira Kumar who is also a Dalit.
Indian presidents are not elected directly by the people but by an electoral college made up of members of parliament and state assemblies.
The results of the poll are expected to be announced on 20 July.
The winner will replace Pranab Mukherjee, a political veteran of the main opposition Congress party, who has held the post from 2012.
Polling began in parliament in the capital, Delhi, and state capitals, at 1000 (04:30GMT). Voting is expected to end at 1700 hours.
A total of 4,896 lawmakers - parliamentarians and legislators - are expected to vote in Monday's election.
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