Voting began this month in West Bengal, India's most populous state heading to elections, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party is challenging incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. A voter roll revision removed approximately nine million voters — over 10 percent of the electorate — with many of those deleted being Muslim, sparking accusations of disenfranchisement targeting minority voters. Results are expected May 4.

The BJP has made significant inroads, growing from just three assembly seats in 2016 to 77 in the last election, and analysts predict they could exceed 100 seats this time. Banerjee, popularly known as "Didi," remains the favorite but faces a tighter race than previous contests. The state holds strategic importance as India's second-largest Muslim population center and controls the Siliguri Corridor — the narrow land route connecting New Delhi to the northeastern states.

The Election Commission, with Modi involved in selecting its chief, has rejected claims of political bias, stating the revision was necessary to remove deceased, duplicated, or relocated voters. The controversy has become a flashpoint in the battle between the BJP's Hindu nationalist agenda and Banerjee's secular platform, with the outcome potentially reshaping India's political landscape.