Tamil Nadu and Bengal go to polls

The elections are seen as a major test for regional leaders M.K. Stalin and Mamata Banerjee against the national influence of the BJP. Security has been significantly scaled up, with over two hundred thousand central forces deployed in West Bengal following a surge in pre-poll violence.

In Tamil Nadu, the entry of actor Vijay's TVK party has added a new layer of unpredictability to the traditional Dravidian rivalry.

Authorities have already seized over one thousand crore rupees in potential inducements, marking one of the most expensive election cycles in Indian history.