Indian govt mulls snap polls in Nov

One of the key factors which could push the government into bringing forward the poll, which is scheduled for October 2004, is this summer's bumper monsoon season.

Nearly the whole country has been swamped by 98 percent average rainfall, triggering a "feel-good" effect in the largely agricultural economy, which last year saw a percentage point knocked off economic growth due to a severe drought.

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"The good monsoon has indeed led to a flurry of activity in political circles," said analyst Yashwant Desmukh.

"The farmers are happy, the economy is looking up, Moreover, relations with Pakistan are on a high.

"Waiting till next year could prove to be a bit risky. What if the rains fail and there is a rampant drought?"

Furthermore, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which heads a 24-party coalition government, in April offered a "hand of friendship" to Pakistan, ending 17 months of hostilities that had brought them to the brink of war.

Another important factor is that the government cannot afford to draft another "populist" budget after this year's generous handouts.

"In this (year's) budget, they gave everything -- sops to the middle class -- income tax rebates -- sops to industry, farmers, everyone," Deshmukh said.

"There's nothing else left in the kitty. So, another budget next March could prove to be costly in terms of votes."

Some members of the government are promoting a February election, a month before the government is due to present the next budget.