Voters in India's Assam and Kerala states and the federally administered region of Puducherry are voting in local elections seen as a test of support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The elections pit the BJP and its regional allies against opposition parties. The public is concerned about rising energy costs and tighter cooking gas supplies due to the Middle East war. A strong showing for the BJP could bolster its federal government. Opposition parties are also seeking to challenge the BJP's dominance across the country. The most contentious state is West Bengal, where allegations of irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls have fueled political tensions.