Watch part two

India, the world's largest democracy, is holding its 15th general elections and its fourth phase will be held on Thursday.

Political parties are doing their best to court more than 700 million eligible voters, including a large number of first-time youth voters.

Campaigns are being fought on personalities and issues like religion, caste and region – all at a time of economic slowdown, political fragmentation and security threats.

Indian politics have been dominated by coalition groups led by the Congress party and the BJP, but today they are facing pressure from a so-called Third Front, a group of regional parties that is threatening to upset the balance of power.

While politicians worry about their campaigns, power and the outcome of the polls, many Indian voters say their main concerns are access to clean water, electricity and better roads.

On this edition of 101 East, we ask what is the future of India's democracy and who will shape it?

This episode of 101 East airs from Thursday, May 7, 2009 at the following times GMT: Thursday: 1230; Friday: 0300; Saturday: 0530, 1730; Sunday: 0330, 1130; Monday: 1630; Tuesday: 0600, 1430; Wednesday: 0830, 1930.