PM Modi's party faces challenges in key Indian states

Voting has begun in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. More than 74 million people are eligible to vote in the state in a key election that is a precursor to several key state polls.

Voters will vote for 243 seats in a two-stage election to choose the next state government. Vote counting is scheduled for November 14th.

The election came after controversial amendments to the electoral roll that the opposition claimed would exclude genuine voters and give an advantage to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP and the Election Commission of India denied these allegations.

Bihar is one of India's poorest and most populous states, with millions of people migrating to other states in search of work. The state is also one of the few in India where Mr. Modi's party has not yet been able to form a government on its own.

The outgoing government is an alliance between the BJP and the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U). The two parties will once again contest elections together, with India's main opposition party, the Nationalist Congress Party, partnering with the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and a number of smaller parties.

The election also saw the entry of a new political party led by political consultant Prashant Kishore, who has worked for both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress in the past.

The election is also closely watched as it may be the last to see active participation of two leaders who have shaped Bihar's politics for almost four decades: JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar and RJD's Lalu Prasad Yadav. Rivals who are said to be in poor health sometimes join forces to maintain power.

Incumbent Chief Minister Kumar is one of the state's most influential leaders and has led the government for most of the past two decades.

He is a key ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party and played a key role in helping Mr. Modi's party form a federal government after the 2024 elections.

RJD's Lalu Yadav served as chief minister from 1990 to 1997. Yadav, known for his colorful personality and witty one-liners, transformed the state's political landscape by emerging as a champion of marginalized caste groups. But his party's years in power have been marked by mismanagement and corruption. He was convicted in a corruption case and is currently out on bail.

Yadav's son Tejashwi is seen as the opposition coalition's prime ministerial candidate.

The election followed a controversial revision of the voter list carried out by the Election Commission of India several months ago. The commission released a list of 74.2 million voters in September, excluding 4.7 million names.

The exercise was heavily criticized by opposition parties, who accused the committee of trying to woo many voters, especially Muslims, to support Mr. Modi's party. Both the BJP and the Election Commission denied this.

Analysts say female voters are expected to play a key role in this election, with nearly half of voters being women and turnout rising steadily.

Political analyst Santosh Singh said women in Bihar are more likely to vote on issues, which is why political parties are trying to target them with various welfare schemes. Both alliances are providing financial support to attract women voters.

Earlier this week, the BBC met Khushboo Devi, 40, campaigning for a local candidate in Mauli village. She said she is trying to get everyone to come vote, but with a focus on women.

“Because in Bihar, wherever the turnout is high, it's usually women who come to the polling booths.”