India kicks off a month-long period of state elections on Friday that will test the political waters as signs grow that an economic slowdown is emerging as a major voter worry.

The elections, mostly in central and west India, come before a general election in early 2009 that will pit the ruling Congress-led UPA coalition against the main opposition alliance led by Bharatiya Janata Party.

Voters may also pass judgment on a government criticised for rising prices and for failing to prevent terror attacks, issues that have helped the BJP win a string of state elections in the last year.

For the first time, India may also see the political impact of a global credit crunch that is already pinching poor farmers and aspiring middle class voters once enjoying an economic boom.

India's economy is reeling, with car factories on three-day weeks, soy farmers hit by drops in commodity prices or revenue outlooks by software exporters cut.

"We're looking at these elections from the threat of terrorism, and economic threats," said Sudheendra Kulkarni, a BJP election strategist. "People feel unsafe from multiple sources."

The economy may still grow at around 7.5 percent this year, but it's a far cry from 9 pct or more in the last few years and the trend is south. Some experts predict industry, which accounts for about 20 percent of the economy, may be near recession.

"These are dress rehearsals for the two major parties," said political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan.

"The elections will be looked at as a verdict on (Prime Minister) Manmohan's Singh's economic policies and the effect of the slowdown."

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