Assam and Kerala States Hold Legislative Assembly Elections Today

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Voting took place in Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry on Thursday, with elections also scheduled for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu later this month. The polls are part of five key contests set to take place this month, which will test support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On voting day, nearly 174 million voters cast ballots to elect over 290 legislators.

Modi appealed to voters to participate in the elections, stating that he hopes “the state’s youth and women voters participate enthusiastically and make this election a celebration of democracy and public duty.” The results from all the elections are due on May 4.

State elections do not directly affect India’s federal government stability, but they are closely watched as a test of voter sentiment towards the ruling coalition. In Assam, a BJP-led alliance is expected to retain power, according to Vote Vibe. The BJP targeted Muslim voters in its campaign, despite not fielding any Muslim candidates.

In Kerala, parties opposed to the BJP are set to win, with power traditionally alternating between alliances led by the Indian National Congress and communist parties. In Puducherry, the BJP is relying on a coalition with a regional party to strengthen its position.

The most contentious of the upcoming electoral contests is West Bengal, where the Trinamool Congress party has been in power for three consecutive terms. Modi’s party aims to win to curb immigration from neighboring Bangladesh. Allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision exercise have intensified political tensions in West Bengal. The Election Commission of India denies these allegations, stating that the exercise eliminated dead, duplicate, and fake voters.

In Tamil Nadu, a coalition including the BJP is expected to mount a close challenge against a ruling regional party. The outcome of the elections could show whether Modi’s party can extend its dominance by making inroads into opposition strongholds.

Source: Al Jazeera