Outcome in the six states will be crucial for parties with national elections looming
By
P. Jayaram, India Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Six Indian states go to the polls in the next few weeks in what is widely seen as a test of the popularity of the country's main political parties, ahead of national elections in the first half of next year.
Political analysts say the outcome of the elections will be crucial for the two major parties, even though it may not be a clear pointer for parliamentary polls next year.
The two parties are the Congress, which heads the ruling coalition in Delhi, and the main opposition, pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said that the elections would be a good indicator of the public mood.
'A good showing will help us gauge public thinking. It will also help us sew up alliances for the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) polls,' he told reporters.
The BJP rules three of the states going to the polls - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The Congress is in power only in Delhi, which covers the national capital.
The fifth state, Mizoram in the north-east, is ruled by a regional party. The sixth, the troubled border state of Jammu and Kashmir, is under federal rule after the Congress-led coalition government there collapsed in August.
Polls will be held in two phases on Nov 14 and 20 in Chhattisgarh, plagued by Maoist rebel violence, followed by Madhya Pradesh on Nov 25.
Delhi and Mizoram will go to the polls on Nov 29, and Rajasthan on Dec 4.
The results of these five states are expected on Dec 8.
In Jammu and Kashmir, whose ownership is disputed by India and Pakistan, polling will be spread over seven days - from Nov 17 to 24 - to prevent separatists from disrupting the elections. The separatists have called for a boycott.
The results of this election are expected on Dec 28.
Analyst Mahesh Rangarajan said the deepening economic problems and inflation would be major issues.
'Whether the voters blame the state government or the central government for their problems is to be seen,' he added.
Local municipal issues and unfulfilled promises are also often the main issues that sway Indian voters.
Mr Rangarajan noted that months after the BJP swept to power in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the party suffered a shock defeat in the national elections in 2004.
'These state elections are fought on local issues and various factors like anti-incumbency and failure to live up to the promises come into play,' he told The Straits Times.
Congress spokesman Tom Vadakkan said his party hoped to capitalise on the failure of BJP governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to make good their election promises to provide drinking water, roads and electricity.
