Hate speeches, candidates declaring huge, unprecedented amounts of money and property, friends turned adversaries turned friends, breaking of alliances, and unbridled promises are some of the things that 714 million voters are being assaulted with each day, with major issues like terrorism, the economic meltdown, rising prices and job losses being sidelined as India goes to the polls from Apr. 16 — May 13. New members will be elected to the 545-member Lok Sabha (the lower house of parliament) for five-year terms. There are dire predictions that the country could be heading for a weaker and perhaps short-lived coalition government, with major national parties losing out to regional allies.

With nearly 43 million first-time voters above the age of 18 joining the Electoral College, the coming national poll was widely expected to bring in a major paradigm change in the manner ... Read more »