India

October 2004 | Risk Summary

India's second-biggest state of Maharashtra goes to the polls on October 17 in the first electoral test for the Congress party since its national election victory five months ago. According to opinion polls, Maharashtra's ruling Congress-led alliance has a narrow lead over the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, but it is expected to fall short of a clear majority in the 288-seat local assembly. Though the election is being fought on local issues, a win for Congress would give a much-needed morale boost to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the ruling National Democratic Alliance government in New Delhi.

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