India’s weekslong election is drawing to a close. Between now and June 1, the remaining 164 of 543 constituencies in the lower house of India’s parliament will vote. Much attention to date has focused on how India’s religious and caste divides have become political fodder. In fact, tensions between Indian states may be even more dangerous.
Those divisions will be on full display in these last few days of campaigning. Only three states vote in every single one of the seven phases of India’s election, which began on April 19: Giants Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which with a combined population of 350 million would together be the third-largest country in the world, and smaller West Bengal, which since the 1970s has always been ruled by a different party from that in power in New Delhi.
If the two behemoths have staggered elections because they are so large, West Bengal’s voting is spread over seven days to limit the risk of riots. Political violence has become a major electoral issue in the state in recent years, exploited by all sides of the political spectrum.