India, April 23 -- West Bengal and Tamil Nadu-two of India's largest and politically significant states-headed into crucial assembly polls on Thursday amid the shadow of the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Polling is currently underway in the first phase in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress faces a strong challenge and a potential 15-year anti-incumbency wave. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu is voting in a single-phase election on April 23.

The BJP is making an aggressive push to unseat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 294-seat West Bengal assembly. In Tamil Nadu, the saffron party has joined forces with the AIADMK in a bid to topple the ruling DMK-Congress alliance in the 234-seat assembly.

Published by HT Di...