High-stakes West Bengal election begins in India amid voter roll row
India's high-stakes state elections began with voting in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, amid controversy over revised electoral rolls. The elections are seen as a test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party's ability to expand its influence.
India is holding state elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. In West Bengal, 152 of 294 seats are being contested in the first phase, with 1,478 candidates vying for votes. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is challenging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress for a fourth term. The election is marred by controversy over revised electoral rolls, with around 9 million voters removed. The Election Commission says the revision aimed to clean up the rolls, but opposition parties and affected families have raised concerns. Security is a major focus, with 240,000 central forces deployed across West Bengal. The elections are seen as a gauge of support for Modi's party ahead of future contests.
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