{"id":1873520,"date":"2026-04-09T06:32:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T03:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1873520"},"modified":"2026-04-09T06:32:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T03:32:29","slug":"india-news-kerala-assam-and-puducherry-head-to-polls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1873520","title":{"rendered":"India news: Kerala, Assam and Puducherry head to polls"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76715640_6.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"s1sfzv1a sk6xmai\">\n<div class=\"content-area sa7l9jt s9mg977\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"sharing-icons-inline\" class=\"c75t7t0 hh5424a in-line closed\">\n<div class=\"copy-button-wrapper closed\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BtKp<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"s4bcs45\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76715640_800.webp 50w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76715640_801.webp 129w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76715640_802.webp 352w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76715640_803.webp 575w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 575px)\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" \/><figcaption class=\"c1oedowi lofg86o m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Regional elections are a major test for Prime Minister Modi&#8217;s BJP party<small class=\"copyright c19ed66t ihwmx5 idu7i8u lxmvniw icns9en rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Image: Anuwar Hazarika\/NurPhoto\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" id=\"live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"c1800ln sq3xutt atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-kerala-assam-and-puducherry-head-to-polls\/live-76715999#post-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section What you need to know<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"c2fyhwl ctymiyf content-block i1if36d6 i1ytahzz\">\n<h2 class=\"cp7bjxx h1du6kc5 lt5vbch pohyj9x s16w0xvi m1u0isv1 b1fzgn0z\">What you need to know<\/h2>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>Regiona elections are underway in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Bangladesh&#8217;s foreign minister has asked\u00a0India to extradite fugitive and former PM Sheikh Hasina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Here&#8217;s a roundup of news headlines from <\/em><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India<\/a><em> on Thursday, April 9:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"s1ogwy7c ev9ivjh\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76716038\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-kerala-assam-and-puducherry-head-to-polls\/live-76715999#post-liveblog-post-76716038\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Voting underway in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">04\/09\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">April 9, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Voting underway in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76715783\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76715783_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A woman leaves the voting booth after casting her ballot in Kochi, Kerala\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">A woman leaves the voting booth after casting her ballot in Kochi, Kerala<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Sivaram Venkitasubramanian\/NurPhoto\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Two states and one union territory have gone to polls, kicking off the Assembly election season in India. Voting in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry begun at 7 a.m. local time (01:30 GMT) and will go on till 5 p.m. (11:30 GMT).<\/p>\n<p>Two other opposition-ruled states, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, will vote later this month. The results for all five regions are expected May 4.<\/p>\n<p>The high stakes elections will see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#8217;s <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hindu-nationalism\/t-66897981\">Hindu Nationalist<\/a> Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fight regional parties for power. The BJP has never won an election in Kerala.<\/p>\n<p>The polls come while the public is concerned about <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fighting-in-iran-is-another-1970sstyle-oil-crisis-looming\/a-76557017\">rising energy costs and tighter cooking gas supplies<\/a> due to the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>Modi took to social media on Thursday, urging voters \u2014 especially women and youth \u2014 to step out to fulfil their democratic duty.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what you need to know:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Assam<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>25 Million voters will elect a 126-member assembly<\/li>\n<li>BJP eyeing third term in power<\/li>\n<li>Contest between Ruling BJP and India&#8217;s largest national opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC)<\/li>\n<li>First state election since 2023 when BJP held a controversial exercise redrawing constituency lines, which critics allege manipulated minority votes to suit the BJP<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Kerala<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>27 million\u00a0voters of the southern state will elect a 140-member state assembly\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Stage set for a three-way contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance, a BJP-led alliance and a Congress-led alliance<\/li>\n<li>Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Puducherry<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coastal union territory in southern India<\/li>\n<li>About 944,000 voters will vote for 30 seats in the union territory&#8217;s assembly<\/li>\n<li>Currently ruled by a BJP-backed alliance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BtLS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76716033\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-kerala-assam-and-puducherry-head-to-polls\/live-76715999#post-liveblog-post-76716033\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Welcome to our coverage<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">04\/09\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">April 9, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Welcome to our coverage<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Good morning! and welcome to DW&#8217;s India blog.<\/p>\n<p>This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi Bureau and I will bring to you the day&#8217;s biggest headlines and talking points from the country.<\/p>\n<p>Parts of India, including the national capital, continue to see showers and thunderstorms due to a western disturbance rarely seen in the month of April. The atmospheric phenomenon has forced discussions of climate change all over the country.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of weather, it&#8217;s election season in India as voters in two states and a union territory head to polls in high-stakes elections, which could see Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/narendra-modi\/t-65800410\">Narendra Modi<\/a>&#8216;s ruling BJP party extend ist power, both in terms of time and constituencies.<\/p>\n<p>On the global front, Indians remain glued to their television sets as the fragile temporary ceasefire between <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">the US,Israel and Iran<\/a> seems to be coming undone. The war in the Middle East has significantly impacted Indian investments, businesses and critical supplies like cooking gas.<\/p>\n<p>Stick with us as we break down the day&#8217;s news for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BtLN<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"h4zlaoh bp605kw center\">\n<div role=\"button\" data-tracking-name=\"show-more\" class=\"show-more-button s1va3u11 t1y9040i m7i2pic e3w9kkf b19vsmfu cx4rgdt ih9bob8 disabled sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Show more posts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>Regiona elections are underway in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Bangladesh&#8217;s foreign minister has asked\u00a0India to extradite fugitive and former PM Sheikh Hasina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Here&#8217;s a roundup of news headlines from <\/em><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India<\/a><em> on Thursday, April 9:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Here&#8217;s a roundup of news headlines from <\/em><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india\/t-18996071\">India<\/a><em> on Thursday, April 9:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76715783\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76715783_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A woman leaves the voting booth after casting her ballot in Kochi, Kerala\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">A woman leaves the voting booth after casting her ballot in Kochi, Kerala<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Sivaram Venkitasubramanian\/NurPhoto\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Two states and one union territory have gone to polls, kicking off the Assembly election season in India. Voting in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry begun at 7 a.m. local time (01:30 GMT) and will go on till 5 p.m. (11:30 GMT).<\/p>\n<p>Two other opposition-ruled states, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, will vote later this month. The results for all five regions are expected May 4.<\/p>\n<p>The high stakes elections will see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#8217;s <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hindu-nationalism\/t-66897981\">Hindu Nationalist<\/a> Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fight regional parties for power. The BJP has never won an election in Kerala.<\/p>\n<p>The polls come while the public is concerned about <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fighting-in-iran-is-another-1970sstyle-oil-crisis-looming\/a-76557017\">rising energy costs and tighter cooking gas supplies<\/a> due to the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>Modi took to social media on Thursday, urging voters \u2014 especially women and youth \u2014 to step out to fulfil their democratic duty.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what you need to know:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Assam<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>25 Million voters will elect a 126-member assembly<\/li>\n<li>BJP eyeing third term in power<\/li>\n<li>Contest between Ruling BJP and India&#8217;s largest national opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC)<\/li>\n<li>First state election since 2023 when BJP held a controversial exercise redrawing constituency lines, which critics allege manipulated minority votes to suit the BJP<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Kerala<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>27 million\u00a0voters of the southern state will elect a 140-member state assembly\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Stage set for a three-way contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance, a BJP-led alliance and a Congress-led alliance<\/li>\n<li>Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Puducherry<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coastal union territory in southern India<\/li>\n<li>About 944,000 voters will vote for 30 seats in the union territory&#8217;s assembly<\/li>\n<li>Currently ruled by a BJP-backed alliance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Two states and one union territory have gone to polls, kicking off the Assembly election season in India. Voting in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry begun at 7 a.m. local time (01:30 GMT) and will go on till 5 p.m. (11:30 GMT).<\/p>\n<p>Two other opposition-ruled states, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, will vote later this month. The results for all five regions are expected May 4.<\/p>\n<p>The high stakes elections will see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#8217;s <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hindu-nationalism\/t-66897981\">Hindu Nationalist<\/a> Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fight regional parties for power. The BJP has never won an election in Kerala.<\/p>\n<p>The polls come while the public is concerned about <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fighting-in-iran-is-another-1970sstyle-oil-crisis-looming\/a-76557017\">rising energy costs and tighter cooking gas supplies<\/a> due to the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>Modi took to social media on Thursday, urging voters \u2014 especially women and youth \u2014 to step out to fulfil their democratic duty.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what you need to know:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Assam<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Kerala<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Puducherry<\/strong><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Good morning! and welcome to DW&#8217;s India blog.<\/p>\n<p>This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi Bureau and I will bring to you the day&#8217;s biggest headlines and talking points from the country.<\/p>\n<p>Parts of India, including the national capital, continue to see showers and thunderstorms due to a western disturbance rarely seen in the month of April. The atmospheric phenomenon has forced discussions of climate change all over the country.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of weather, it&#8217;s election season in India as voters in two states and a union territory head to polls in high-stakes elections, which could see Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/narendra-modi\/t-65800410\">Narendra Modi<\/a>&#8216;s ruling BJP party extend ist power, both in terms of time and constituencies.<\/p>\n<p>On the global front, Indians remain glued to their television sets as the fragile temporary ceasefire between <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">the US,Israel and Iran<\/a> seems to be coming undone. The war in the Middle East has significantly impacted Indian investments, businesses and critical supplies like cooking gas.<\/p>\n<p>Stick with us as we break down the day&#8217;s news for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Good morning! and welcome to DW&#8217;s India blog.<\/p>\n<p>This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi Bureau and I will bring to you the day&#8217;s biggest headlines and talking points from the country.<\/p>\n<p>Parts of India, including the national capital, continue to see showers and thunderstorms due to a western disturbance rarely seen in the month of April. The atmospheric phenomenon has forced discussions of climate change all over the country.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of weather, it&#8217;s election season in India as voters in two states and a union territory head to polls in high-stakes elections, which could see Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/narendra-modi\/t-65800410\">Narendra Modi<\/a>&#8216;s ruling BJP party extend ist power, both in terms of time and constituencies.<\/p>\n<p>On the global front, Indians remain glued to their television sets as the fragile temporary ceasefire between <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">the US,Israel and Iran<\/a> seems to be coming undone. The war in the Middle East has significantly impacted Indian investments, businesses and critical supplies like cooking gas.<\/p>\n<p>Stick with us as we break down the day&#8217;s news for you.<\/p>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/india-news-kerala-assam-and-puducherry-head-to-polls\/live-76715999&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76715640_6.jpg&#8221;] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BtKp Regional elections are a major test for Prime Minister Modi&#8217;s BJP partyImage: Anuwar Hazarika\/NurPhoto\/picture alliance Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Regiona elections are underway in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry\u00a0 Bangladesh&#8217;s foreign minister has asked\u00a0India to extradite fugitive and former PM Sheikh Hasina Here&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1873520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1873520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1873520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1873520\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1873520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1873520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1873520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}