India holds crucial state elections
India holds crucial state elections
Voting has begun in crucial state elections in India in what is seen as PM Narendra Modi's first major test of popularity five months after he led his BJP to a landslide win.
The BJP is hoping to win in Maharashtra and Haryana, which have been ruled by Congress along with its allies.
In September, BJP suffered a setback in a string of by-elections.
However, unlike September, Modi campaigned personally this time seeking votes for his party in the two states.
Western Maharashtra state, which is home to India's financial capital, Mumbai and has a population of 110 million, is one of India's biggest and most politically crucial states.
More than 80 million people there are eligible to vote in a five-party contest for the 288 assembly seats.
"Unless Mumbai and Maharashtra progresses, the country won't move forward. You have wasted 15 years - please don't waste any more time," Modi - who addressed more than 25 public meetings in the state - told a campaign meeting ahead of Wednesday's polls.
BREAKING UP
Both the BJP and Congress are fighting the election on their own after they broke away from their key allies in Maharashtra.
The BJP surprised many by breaking off an alliance with Shiv-Sena, a right-wing regional party, and the Congress split with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), an ally with whom it has ruled the state for 15 years.
Opinions polls have predicted a narrow win for the BJP - a party needs 145 seats to obtain a majority in the assembly.
Analysts say the polls in Maharashtra will also prove whether BJP is able to win elections on its own in India's fractured politics, where smaller regional parties hold sway in the states.
This is a carefully thought-out strategy," political analyst Girish Kuber told the Reuters news agency.
"Earlier, they didn't have the legs to make it on their own in states where regional allies are strong, but given Mr Modi's pan-Indian appeal, it seems that they will succeed."
In northern Haryana state, the BJP is locked in a battle with the ruling Congress and the regional INLD party.
More than 10 million people are eligible to cast their votes for the 90 seats in the state assembly.
Modi spoke at more than 11 campaign meetings in Haryana, where the BJP is aiming to deny the Congress party a third consecutive term in government.
The poll results in both the states will be declared on Sunday.