DHAKA: Campaigning has ended in India's marathon general election, two days before the final votes are cast.

In the closing phase of the contest, several major parties held rallies in Uttar Pradesh, a battleground northern state which is among the last to vote.

Rahul Gandhi, of the governing Congress party, campaigned on Saturday in Varanasi from an open-topped vehicle.

Narendra Modi, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gave a speech in Robertsganj, near Varanasi.

The poll, which began in April, is the world's largest exercise in democracy.

Voting has been held in nine stages across the country, to enable the participation of an electorate of 814 million. Vote counting begins on 16 May, reports the BBC.

BDST: 2208 HRS, MAY 10, 2014