Indian Elections: Are voters driven by sentiments rather than achievements?

As the election commission of India sets April 16th for the starting of Indian Parliamentary elections, the battle ground is all set between the Congress-led coalition and the leading opposition bloc headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

vote Ti1N1 17334

But Congress's prospects for re-election are uncertain. Its major accomplishment, India's soaring economic growth over the last few years, has been hit hard by the global economic downturn.

It has also faced severe criticism for the bungled handling of the Mumbai terror attack in November that killed 164 people. With all this open before the voters, it remains to be seen whether this time sentiments will outdo the achievements or vice versa?