Nepal, March 20 -- As trite as it might sound, there is no festival more passionately followed in India as elections. With the Election Commission announcing poll dates in four states (Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu) and one Union Territory (Puducherry), it is time for yet another round of that grand event.

Earlier this week, the poll body announced that elections in the five states/Union Territories would begin on April 9, with the results set to be declared on May 9.

There is much at stake in all elections, but in this leg, the Opposition is the real story, being in power in three of the four states. The big question is to what extent it will be able to stop the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from expanding its nationa...