Photo: EPA
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist party suffered a setback Sunday when it lost a fiercely contested state poll.
Over the past month India held its biggest democratic exercise in two years, with 175 million people eligible to vote in five regional elections.
But the marathon polls involved huge rallies where many attendees were maskless, and a record-breaking coronavirus spike coincided with the final phases of voting.
Experts blame complacency about the pandemic, as well as religious festivals attended by millions of devotees and political rallies, for the virus crisis.
The most important election was in the eastern state of West Bengal, home to 90 million people.
Setback for Modi after loss in key West Bengal election
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Setback for Modi after loss in key India state poll
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Setback For Modi With Key India State Poll Loss
05/02/21 AT 11:27 AM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi s Hindu-nationalist party suffered a setback Sunday when it lost a tightly contested and violence-hit state poll.
India held its biggest democratic exercise in two years over the past month, with 175 million people eligible to vote in five regional elections.
But the marathon polls involved huge rallies where many attendees were maskless, and a record-breaking coronavirus spike coincided with the final phases of voting.
The most important election was in the eastern state of West Bengal, home to 90 million people.
Modi and his right-hand man, Home Minister Amit Shah, campaigned heavily in the state as they sought to end a decade of rule by firebrand leader Mamata Banerjee.