Indian PM Modi Looks to Secure Upper Parliament in Local Elections

The results of the Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections are crucial for Prime Minister Modi, who may have a majority in the lower house of the Parliament, but still he needs to win a maximum number of assembly seats to better control the Upper house, where they are a minority.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Voters turned out on Monday in droves to cast their ballot in the local elections of state of Assam and West Bengal. The first phase of the voting is now done, both for the six phase Assembly election and the two-phase Assam Assembly election.

At the end of polling, 75 percent voter turnout was recorded in West Bengal, while only 67 percent was tallied in Assam.

The current Assembly elections are crucial for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to increase their hold in the Upper parliament, where they are the minority.

This goal is under threat by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is seeking to hold onto the chief minister position in West Bengal.

In Assam, the BJP is trying to oust Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who has come under pressure from anti-incumbent voters.

Sarbanand Sonowal, candidate for the post of Chief Minister from the BJP was confident that his party would win the elections.

"Congress was a total failure in terms of development, now the people want development in the state. So they will vote for the BJP", Sarbanand Sonowal said.

Three more Indian states will go for polls in the coming days. These polls will ultimately decide the future of Modi and the BJP determining how he will be able to execute his policies pending approval in the Upper House of Indian Parliament.