Publication

This paper examines key issues that could influence voting behavior in India's 15th general elections of April and May 2009. It outlines the political background of the elections, discusses different the political parties' strategies and highlights issues and concerns that could influence the election outcome, including the economic slowdown, inflation and national security and terrorism. The author states that it is extremely difficult to predict the outcome of the election and that a period of political uncertainty, as experienced between 1996 and 1999, could take place again.