The curtain fell yesterday on India's five-round election in which 370 million people voted, with exit polls showing the ruling Hindu nationalists losing seats and struggling to form a stable government. Up to 55 per cent of the 671.5 million eligible voters cast ballots in the polls, which began on April 20 and closed in a massive finale yesterday over 16 states and territories from isolated Himalayan villages to bustling New Delhi, Calcutta and Madras. Exit polls showed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's coalition, which had called the election early to take advantage of soaring economic growth, hovering around the 272-seat mark needed for a majority. The most optimistic assessment for the Hindu nationalist coalition came from Sahara Television which showed it securing up to 278 of 543 seats. The Aaj Tak channel showed the alliance winning only 248 seats. A poll by NDTV predicted that the BJP and its allies were headed for 230-250 seats and 190-205 seats for the main opposition Congress party and its allies, with another 40-50 for leftist parties which have traditionally opposed the BJP. Results of the election are to be announced on Thursday. No channel predicted the main opposition Congress party of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty would fare better than the Hindu nationalists. Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born heir of India's best-known family, voted along with her daughter Priyanka Gandhi, a 32-year-old often touted as a future prime minister. "My mother is doing her job to the best of her capacity. It (power) is not a priority for any of us," Priyanka said after voting. Hundreds of war-weary Kashmiris shrugged aside attack threats and cast their votes yesterday. Election was held in two constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir - Udhampur and Ladakh. Despite the threats to kill voters and candidates participating in the polls, thousands lined up at heavily guarded polling booths at Batote in Udhampur. Nearly 42pc turned up to vote in Udhampur and 60pc turned up to vote in Ladakh. The voting was held under the shadow of violence - five grenade attacks have rocked Udhampur since Sunday, killing two people and wounding at least two dozen. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A supporter of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with his head painted in party colors in a lotus symbol, attends a rally by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in the southern Indian city of Madras on May 5, 2004. (Reuters)