MUMBAI: In the wake of the upcoming elections, BBC Hindi service, radio and online, will bring in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the elections. The service, which currently has the Voice of the People road show touring Bihar, is also broadcasting three series especially for the election featuring the former prime minister I K Gujral and discussing India's democracy and voting tradition.
 

Over the next eight weeks starting Wednesday, 25 March Gujral discusses the elections, weaving in the electoral dynamics of India's democracy into his own busy political past. Gujral's radio programme will be accompanied by a regular column on BBC Hindi's popular website bbchindi.com.

In Aap Ke Mudde, Aap Ka Chunav also starting on 25 March, BBC Hindi radio editor Shivkant travels across India exploring how democracy interplays with different aspects of life. In the 25 part series, Shivkant compares voting trends by caste, region and social groups throughout the years. He discusses with politicians the key issues affecting India and speaks to young people, who make up more than half of the voting population, about their concerns and aspirations. Shivkant also explores how women vote and what their expectations are.

Starting on Friday, 2 April social scientist, Yogendra Yadav navigates listeners through the diversity and complexity of Indian democracy in Sansad Ki Raah. This 25 part series analyses the impact of the election on the major states of India, examines the electoral battleground and looks back on past elections. Each programme explores the nature of party competition including how political and social alliances are formed and develop. Yogendra also looks at the challenges ahead for the winning political party and explores the possibility of a caste alignment.

BBC Hindi head Achala Sharma says, "With our radio and online coverage we will ensure that Hindi-speaking audiences globally are engaged with the election story as it unfolds. But more importantly, we will give visitors to bbchindi.com the opportunity to put across their views and contribute to the debate on key issues affecting them in this vote.

The three new series are in addition to extensive news and current affairs coverage of the election on BBC Hindi radio and online.