Tamil Nadu may be gripped by election fever, but among a cross-section of Muslims in Ramanathapuram, the war in West Asia often overshadows polls in discussions. With kin living in the Persian Gulf, many get daily updates from them.

Iran draws near-universal sympathy here, though the Muslim population is largely not Shia. Chelladurai Abdullah, a Congress leader, says there may be divisions among Muslim countries, but the blame for the war lies squarely with U.S. President Donald Trump.