Muffled voices and a sense of fear filled the markets of Siliguri in West Bengal as voting approaches on Thursday (April 23). The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are locked in a solid contest in the state.
Jobs dominate concerns, with women's safety seen as a strong issue. However, views on the ground do not fully match the BJP's claim that the TMC has failed to ensure women's safety.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has emerged as a hot topic ahead of the polls, with the poll body and the state government at odds over the removal of several names from voter lists.
The BJP is banking on PM Modi's popularity to challenge the Trinamool Congress chief, but the party is haunted by the 'outsider' tag and the absence of a 'strong' chief minister face.
Many people who spoke off the record seemed hesitant to support either side, and several who declined to comment said they wanted to avoid any trouble.
