Half India goes to polls

Press, 11 June 1977, Page 7

Half India goes to polls

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi

Nearly half of India has begun polling in ten important states in a vole that could prove crucial to the ruling Janata Party of the Prime Minister (Mr Morarji Desai). The state elections, after the Janata Party’s convincing victory in the March General Election, are being seen as a test of its popularity. The result will decide whether the Janata Party is able to have its own nominee elected as India’s next President. i The enthusiasm for the Janata Party has been affected (by internal squabbles. But (observers believe that Mr

Desai’s party will win, with I the possible exception of (Tamil Nadu in the south and (West Bengal in the east. The Congress Party of the (former Prime Minister, Mrs I Indira Gandhi, is in a state iof even greater confusion .and chaos. The party is. I badly divided and demora- ! iiseu after its election I (deleat, which ended 30 years oi uninterrupted ruie. , I More than 2300 Assembly I seats are at stake in this] election, and the Janata J Party will have to win , nearly two-thirds of these to ( have its own man elected as ' the new President. Elected members of the Assemblies and the two . Houses of Parliament are ' eligible to vote in the Presidential election. It is im- ! portant to the Janata Party to have its own man as , President, because of the I . wide powers attached to the, post.