Several Indian states went to the polls on Sunday, with elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu drawing particular attention. In Kerala, a cash-for-votes scandal dimmed the prospects of BJP leader Sobha Surendran, while Tamil Nadu saw a four-cornered fight in constituencies like Kumarapalayam, where local issues — water contamination, traffic congestion, and inadequate bus services — dominated over national narratives.
India also mourned legendary singer Asha Bhosle, whose death prompted an outpouring of tributes. Recognized as the most-recorded artist in history, Bhosle’s voice spanned genres from Bollywood playback to pop, jazz, and ghazals. As The Hindu noted, hers was “a voice that defied genres, time” — one that “felt like a friend, a co-conspirator, or a mirror.”
