Political turmoil in Indian border state as nine million lose voting rights

In West Bengal, India, nine million voters (12% of the electorate) have been removed from the 2026 electoral rolls, sparking political turmoil. The ruling TMC party alleges the revision disproportionately affects Muslims, aiming to benefit the BJP, though both the BJP and Election Commission deny this. The removals stem from an Election Commission AI-driven process flagging "logical discrepancies," particularly impacting 2.7 million voters linked to the 2002 roll. While the Supreme Court allowed elections to proceed, the fate of these 2.7 million remains undecided, with data suggesting a majority are Muslim. The controversy adds tension to debates over migration and voter rolls in the state, which shares a porous border with Bangladesh.

In West Bengal, India, fish has become a surprising political issue in the lead-up to state elections on April 23 and 29. Fish is a staple food deeply ingrained in Bengali culture and identity. Concerns have arisen among voters that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, might impose dietary restrictions, including banning fish, if it wins the election. The BJP, known for its Hindu nationalist agenda and promotion of vegetarianism, is aggressively challenging the current chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, and her All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has governed the state since 2011. The potential impact on the availability of fish is a major talking point among voters as they head to the polls.