Two Indian states hold elections; Modi’s party expected to win

Voters cast ballots yesterday in two Indian states where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party is seeking a second consecutive term.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to win the elections in Maharashtra in the west and Haryana in the north after its dominant victory in national elections earlier this year.

Modi took to Twitter to urge voters to participate in large numbers and exercise their right to vote and “enrich the festival of democracy.”

Voters were seen lining up to vote outside polling booths and getting their identities checked before voting in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra state, where a coalition between Modi’s party and Shiv Sena is expected to retain power, according to opinion polls.

Being the home of Bollywood, celebrities were also seen outside polling stations in Mumbai to cast their votes.

The BJP’s high-voltage election campaigning aggressively raised the nationalism plank by focusing on the government’s scrapping of disputed Kashmir’s special status in early August and targeting the opposition on national security and corruption. The party has pledged to work towards making the state drought-free.

Opinion surveys predicted a BJP romp in Haryana too, where its main opposition, the Congress party, could face a near decimation. Congress, however, is hoping to recover from its national election rout last spring and make a comeback in the state.

The traffic in Haryana was light as most people remained indoors. Voters said they were voting for issues related to employment.

“We want someone who is educated to rule our state and fix our problems,” said Mohamad Sajid, a voter in Mewat district.

Others said that the government should fulfill the promises they make.

“Whatever good work is required, they [government] should complete it,” said Irshad, who uses only one name.

The opposition tried to corner the BJP governments in the two states on the handling of the economy, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi blaming the ruling party for an economic slowdown and unemployment. But the opposition campaigns were lackluster due to infighting and desertions in the run-up to the vote. Sheikh Saaliq, New Delhi, AP