February 23, 1998

Elections, an India-watcher once observed presciently, is one of those things Indians do well. Too well. This week, about 600 million citizens will elect the 12th Lok Sabha, nearly 38 months ahead of schedule. It will be a monumental exercise that will set the exchequer back by Rs 800 crore -- a small price, some would say, for democracy. But is it going to give India a stable government for the next five years? Or will psephology be the only real growth area in a country wracked by uncertainty?

The answers will be provided when the ballot boxes are opened on March 2. However, the verdict itself will be influenced by the questions posed to the voters. For the past week, India Today correspondents have travelled throughout the country examining the campaigns of those who may end up as representatives of the people. Their reports suggest that India is not merely a vibrant democracy but a very heterogeneous one. The end verdict is not merely born out of different impulses but after a boisterous carnival.

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