In remarks that raised a storm, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said Thursday the death penalty in rape cases was "unfair" as boys make "mistakes".
Some 120 million people Thursday voted in 14 states and union territories in a critical third phase of general election to pick 91 of the 543 MPs, including seven from the seat of power in New Delhi whose control is considered vital for any party to rule India.
Prominent among those who filed their nominations Wednesday were actor Vinod Khanna (BJP, Gurdaspur) and Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly Sunil Jakhar (Congress, Ferozepur).
The crisis-ridden real estate sector, feeling neglected by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, is warming up to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to lift its fortunes.
India's maiden mission to Mars is on course, with its spacecraft Orbiter crossing the halfway mark on its voyage to the red planet, four months after it left Earth Dec 1.
Over 12 million voters will Thursday decide the fate of three main political parties - the BJP, the Congress and the AAP - in Delhi's seven Lok Sabha constituencies.