The Election Commission (EC) is set to announce on Friday the schedule of elections for five state assemblies—Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
The terms of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal governments end in May, while that of Assam and Puducherry end in June.
The upcoming state elections are politically crucial given that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was defeated in the Bihar assembly elections last year. The ruling party is not in power in any of the five states and is looking to perform well in order to increase its political footprint, particularly in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the northeastern state of Assam.
On Thursday, the BJP officially announced a tie-up with Assam’s Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
The Congress party, which is in power in Assam and Kerala, has key stakes to retain in this election given the rapidly shrinking list of states where it is in power.
The ensuing elections are also going to be a test for the regional satraps. Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) takes on M. Karunanidhi-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) which has formed an alliance with Congress in the southern state. In West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) is seeking a second term and is challenged by the Left parties and the Congress, which are keen on an alliance but are yet to take a final call.