Religion, Pakistan may dominate poll campaign

The election campaign for the general election has effectively kicked off, with hawkish comments on Pakistan and demands a Hindu temple be built over a former mosque charging the political atmosphere.

The Election Commission is still discussing the final election dates, although the polls must be held by May.

That has not stopped India's most powerful politicians from joining the fray in rallies that could set the tone of the campaign between the Congress-led government and the Opposition the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The elections come as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh battles a combination of an economic slowdown, higher consumer prices and jittery security after the militant attacks in India's financial hub in November that killed 179 people.

The Congress has upped the rhetoric against Pakistan in the past week as part of a campaign to show a tough stance on terrorism. India blames the Mumbai attacks on militants linked to Pakistan's spy agency.

"Those who are aiding and abetting terrorism from across the border will get a fitting reply," the Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi told a party meeting at the weekend.

Hundreds of BJP leaders met in Nagpur at the weekend, making headlines after the party president Rajnath Singh said the party would push for the construction of a temple that has been a flashpoint of tension between Hindus and Muslims.

The BJP had sought the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya on the site of a 16th century mosque torn down by mobs in 1992. They were forced to abandon plans during the tenure of Vajpayee government after opposition from secular allies.

The speech of Rajnath was later played down by BJP's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani, but the message highlighted what may become more common in the campaign the playing of the Hindu religious card by the party to win voters and energise its grassroots supporters.

The Pakistan and the Hindu religious cards have so far overshadowed the slowing economy, one of voters' major worries. Economic growth is expected to slow to 7% in 2009, and hundreds of thousands of jobs may be lost in the export sector.

"Given the problems of the economy, the platform of Congress is going to be national security," said political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan.

"For the BJP it's going to be Ram. Their leaders don't seem to know how to fire up voters over the economy."

The BJP has also slammed Rahul Gandhi, the 38-year-old heir to the family dynasty, who is seen by many as a potential prime minister capable of infusing Indian politics with young blood.

Election posters have started to appear on streets featuring portraits of Rahul showcasing his youth.