July 30, 2010  Print Email | Poll predicts coalition win in Indian elections
Regional parties expected to do well
Posted by Agencies at 10:27 AM GMT on Mar 23, 2009 | NEW DELHI (AFP): India's new government is likely to be a coalition headed by the ruling Congress Party, according to a poll published today.
The survey by research firm Nielsen for the Star News channel predicted a Congress-led coalition could grab as many as 257 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament.
An alliance led by the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would secure 184 seats, the poll said. Either bloc would need to attract further support to obtain the required 272-seat majority. Congress currently holds 141 seats on its own, with the BJP close behind at 137.
The survey also said regional parties in southern India were expected to do well, after faring poorly in the 2004 elections.
India's 714 million eligible voters will head to the polls in phases from 16 April until 13 May.
Nielsen surveyed 50,402 voters between 5 and 17 March. It did not indicate the margin of error.
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