Sonia Gandhi, chief of the ruling Congress party, wears a "Japi" (a traditional hat of Assam) presented to her by party members during a rally ahead of the general election in Lakhimpur in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on March 30. India, the world's largest democracy, will hold its general election in nine stages staggered between April 7 and May 12.  Reuters/Utpal Baruah