India, June 1 -- After the declaration of the results of the elections to four state assemblies in the first week of May, new governments were formed in West Bengal and Kerala: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal and the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, in Kerala. Not only were the policies and decisions of the two governments in sharp contrast, but the political atmosphere preceding their formation also reflected this difference.
In West Bengal, the declaration of the election results was followed by large-scale violence and intimidation allegedly carried out by supporters of the victorious party. Hours after the results were announced, numerous Trinamool Congress (TMC) party offices were ransacked, vand...