NEW DELHI , India ( CNN ) -- The fifth and final phase of India 's marathon general election to choose a federal government ended Wednesday . Indians voters hold up their voter ID cards at a polling station in northern India . Home to about 714 million voters , India is now due to hold a single-day vote count Saturday for 543 seats in the lower house of its parliament . India 's election commission spokesman Rajesh Malhotra told CNN that a 62 percent voter turnout was recorded in the last phase of polling Wednesday . Voting in the month-long exercise was spread across 28 states and seven federal territories . Stock markets closed 138.4 points down -- as voting drew to a close Wednesday -- apparently over fears of political uncertainty ahead . Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 's Congress party , which came to power in 2004 as head of a communist-backed coalition , is seeking re-election . The party mainly faces opposition from an alliance led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party . Watch more about one village refusing to vote » . Over the years , regional parties have emerged as key players in government formation in India , creating a situation in which federal power is now shared by a coalition of groups . Last year , Singh 's Congress party lost the support of the communists , who opposed India 's civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States . The party was able to survive primarily with the backing of a powerful regional party .
Voting in the month - long exercise was conducted across 28 states . India is scheduled to hold the vote again on Saturday . Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 's Congress Party won re - election .