Election 2014- India votes for a change

Indian voters have emphatically voted for a change . The corrupt and the inefficient have been voted out . The congress has been decimated . It is an unprecedented rout for the congress .Congress has drawn a blank in Delhi and Tamil Nadu . As expected in the combined AP (Seemandra and Telengana)it is almost a rout for the congress,securing just one seat. As expected states like TN,WB and Odisha were not much affected by the Modi wave . Regional leaders in these states were effective foils to BJP and Modi. These three local stalwarts winning 89 (37,34,18)seats between them is an impressive tally by any standards .Congress may not even get the opposition party status ,since its tally falls below the mandatory 10 % of the total seats to claim the opposition party status . It is good to see Rahul and Sonia owning up responsibility for the massive defeat of congress .This should pave way for examining their conduct in the last 10 years and take restorative measures to bring the party back to limelight .India badly needs congress as a strong and viable alternative in future elections.It is up to Congress to enumerate its deficiencies and overcome them .

For a party that ruled the nation for the last 10 years it is surely a dismal performance . Out of the 48 seats congress has managed to win, 21 seats (12 & 9) have come for 2 southern states of Kerala and Karnataka ,where congress is the ruling party. This means from the rest of the country,congress could get a meagre 27 seats . In another congress ruled state Maharashtra the BJP has almost trounced  the congress.In Maharashtra congress has managed to get just 1 seat ,a drab performance . In  J&K also Congress and Farooq Abdulla's NC have drawn a blank .It is no surprise that the DMK had to face the 'Modi and Lady' brunt .The AAP making a foray  in to the national scene too early, has also learnt the political turf at the national level is very different . In fact in one of my earlier posts when AAP made a dramatic debut in Delhi assembly elections ,I had stated this could happen if AAP enters the national scene too ealry.

Most importantlyBJP winning 73 out of the 80  seats in UP , 31 out of 40 in Bihar and 42 out of 48 in Maharashtra is impressive . In Chattisgarh, Goa, Rajasthan and Gujarat it was a clean sweep by BJP. BJP front has opened account in TN and WB securing 2 each in these states,two states mostly unaffected by the Modi wave . The only aberration for BJP could be the defeat of Arun Jaitely in Punjab . However Jaitely is a Rajya Sabha member and could be inducted in to the cabinet .

The most important fall out of this election is, after 1984 elections a national party has secured a clear majority to form the government . This is good for the nation .The clear majority will ensure there is no 'governance paralysis' .But regional parties like AIADMK,TMC,BJD,TDP and TRS have emerged stronger and can not be written off .The communists continued their downward slide .

Congress has to do lots of introspection . Turning a blind eye to all round corruption,Administrative inefficiency,not lending ear to regional leaders ,snubbing regional leaders of their own party and that of allies, disregarding regional sentiments with contempt and dynastic politics have derailed the congress government.Will congress learn a lesson ?.Every state wants their regional leader to be all powerful . It is a regional pride. whether it is a national party or a regional party,the local leader should have a say in national politics .A local leader of a regional party becomes popular when his clout becomes indispensable at national level . Similarly in the case of a national party ,there should be a strong and charismatic regional leader to combat the regional parties . Jayalalitha ,Mamta and Navin Patnaik have proved they are strong regional leaders .In the absence of such charismatic leaders in national parties in each state ,it would be difficult to sustain the party as a force to reckon with at the regional level. Congress has time and again failed to learn this lesson despite severe drubbing at the hands of strong regional parties . Even during the Nehru era ,perhaps the only period during which congress had a truly national presence ,there were strong charismatic leaders at state levels . The present day congress leadership is wary of strong state leaders and systemically stymies state leaders .This could be a fall out of the dynastic politics . In fact it should be the other way .Congress should promote strong regional leaders .At this juncture Congress needs articulate leaders at all levels through out the nation to build the party again at grass root levels . Perhaps they may have to reinvent the wheel . The classic example of a strong regional leader upstaging at the national level could be none other than Modi .

BJP should live up to the expectations of the people of India . They should ensure a corruption free ,transparent ,efficient ,matter of fact government that is development oriented fair and equitable to all sections of the people . The general public also expects the elected representatives to be humility personified and shun arrogant superiority to disdain the views of others as unworthy. I hope on 24 th May when the baton change hands, the new set of sprinters would take the nation forward .Congress along with other parties should play the role of a constructive opposition and try to rebuild its lost glory.

An anatomy of poll results 2013

The Indian electorates have proved once again they are sagacious .They have given a mandate that is acutely insightful and wise .People don't  tolerate parties that look at scams,price rise,corruption and nepotism with disdain .Electorates want a clean corruption free government . Congress,the only party  with a genuine nation wide presence is evidently on the decline and needs to do lot of  introspection. Now it is too late for any corrective action from congress before the ensuing polls in 2014 .

I feel there is a lesson from these election results to parties like BJP and AAP too .They can not take people for granted. Public are fed up with the huge scams that had rocked the nation,inflation,haughtiness and arrogance of politicians .Electorates are more watchful of the conduct and performance of the government . They should be wary of this .More than that it should reflect and manifest in their conduct and performance .But unfortunately  politicians world over always aim at something beyond political life .They aim at  power,glory,fame and felicity . The downfall for politicians start here. Political parties think the general public is credulous and can be  kept in line with populist schemes . Unlike yesteryears, the nation has a comparatively young educated and knowledgeable  electorate .Another threat for political parties could be  increased media coverge and sting operations .Any misdeed by the party or by a politician has  higher chances to get exposed visually . Added to this is the power and reach of social network sites .Our demography says we have the  highest number of youngest voters and all of them are tech savvy .

AAP became a favourite party for Delhites,because it raised many local issues . Along with that, their party wanted to cleanse politics.To clean politics they have entered politics . Practice is always better than percept  .As I said earlier they were more transparent in their dealings .They did what they wanted other parties to do . But more sterner tests await  AAP and Kejriwal. One hopes at least Kejriwal  will live up to his reputation and prove he belongs to a different stock.I say he is from a different stock because when all political parties were opposed to RTI for political parties he fought against it . AAP's huge sucess on debut is nothing new .New parties that promised cleaner politics and corruption free government  have had impressive debuts earlier also .MGR's newly floated party AIADMK promising a clean givernment trounced DMK on debut . DMK could not regain power as long as he was alive . Perhaps the AIADMK of MGR's time was the only exception .After his demise AIADMK also became a run of the mill political party.

But  for all other new entrants the initial euphoria  was all short lived since they were not special or different in any way .NTR started with a bang whipping up Telugu pride and gradually became unpopular with his antics .Vaiko promised clean and decent politics on debut,and there was great expectations. But his subsequent reversal of stands on alliances made him unpopular,though personally he is still Mr.Clean .Vijayakant raised great hopes on debut as a viable alternative for DMK and AIADMK .But it can not be denied there has been a steady decline in his popularity as a politician.Similarly  younger generation thought  AAP could be a viable alternative to Congress and BJP. Besides it could utilise  a nation wide fervent momentum created by Anna Hazare's movement .Since  Anna Hazare was not interested in jumping in to the political bandwagon,it was advantage Kejriwal. More over it is in line with the present national trend .For all practical purposes AAP could be compared to a regional party in this election . Championing local causes and local sentiments many regional parties have sidelined national parties in many states . Similarly AAP is akin to a regional party in this election .But AAP could end up with national ambitions .But  AAP has to be wary of few things.

AAP could be eulogised  and forced to test waters at a national level in the ensuing 2014 elections . This could be a tricky call for AAP and Kejriwal.AAP has to be  wary before venturing in to the national scene with great ambitions .That could prove to be its pitfall. It's popularity could nose dive and become short lived, if  AAP enters the national scene so early . This is because there are lots of greedy politicians, for whom politics is a career waiting to join AAP nation wide to cash in on AAP's popularity . AAP should bear in mind politics is still the last resort for many scoundrels . 

BJP could get voted back to power in states where they were holding fort . So it was pro incumbency in their case. But absolute power intoxicates .BJP should be wary of this . For the first time BJP has a nice opportunity to make its presence felt in southern states and become truly national in the ensuing 2014 elections.Be it Modi magic or otherwise BJP having accused congress of policy paralysis and lack of leadership for all  the mess ,has a point to prove . BJP should bear in mind ,if it manages to win hands down and form a national government in 2014 it is only because it is the only viable national alternative  to congress . 

Finally it is the Indian National Congress . True to its name ,still congress is the only political party in India with a national presence . But it is also an undeniable fact that congress is losing ground in state after state and its national presence is getting confined to limited pockets and completely wiped out in some states .Many regional parties have come to power in many states at the expense of congress . The list of states going out of the control of congress is on the increase.More importantly congress could never regain those states that it lost to regional parties for the last so many years .Now congress is in a critical juncture and is in the danger of getting wiped out in many more states .But because of its strong national presence until the last elections congress managed to become the single largest party at the national level. But this is no longer the situation . Congress is losing its remaining bastions at a faster pace than expected because of its poor governance,corruption,scams ,inflation,dynastic politics,snubbing local regional leaders,not respecting local regional sentiments ,lack of leadership running party from high command and by stifling voices of tall regional leaders of their own party .Congress high command has gone out of the ways to suppress the growth of their own tall party leaders . Despite drubbing by regional parties election after election congress has failed to learn its lessons . Congress thought it could perennially piggy ride on the back of strong regional parties . To ensure this, congress stooped to the level of intimidating regional alliance partners,using CBI to make unrelenting partners to tow congress ,waived and dismissed charges against regional party leaders through CBI to woo their support.

Now congress is likely to be wiped out nationally . But it is a pity that congress has still not learnt from its mistakes . How could a party be so insensitive to issues that invited nation wide criticism like coal scam and answer so irresponsibly about missing files,stage-manage a JPC probe,fail to control inflation.

 Why is the congress high command inimical to local leaders of their own party growing in stature ? .Where ever regional parties are strong there is no congress leader to match their stature .Unless there is a strong regional leader with grass root support,it is difficult to  guide  congress back to victory in states where they have lost power .There is no  way a party can be run by bosses sitting at the party high command. Ignoring local sentiments,pride and aspirations have cost congress irreparable losses.Even during the Nehru era, when there were no opponents worth their name to congress ,congress had tall local leaders in states . Now there are strong opposition to congress in many states from regional parties .But there are no leader worth the name in congress in any of these states .Wherever there was a strong leader at the regional level,national parties have fared better .A strong local leader could develop in to a national leader .Narendra Modi is a good example. for BJP. Perhaps the dynasty politics of congress does not permit this luxury for congress  Because the party is stifling local leaders there is a paucity of second line leaders in congress .With the level of sycophancy in congress it is no wonder Rahul is promoted as the PM nominee for the ensuing 2014 poll . Even if there is a late realisation in congress ,five months is too short a period for congress to make amends and be a force to reckon with in the ensuing elections.

Let us wait and see what surprises the sagacious Indian voters would give us in the ensuing 2014 parliament elections .

Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi has been elevated by congress as its vice president ahead of the 2014 polls. May be Congress feels Rahul Gandhi is perhaps its best bet to  face the electorates in the 2013  assembly elections due in 7 states and the parliamentary elections in 2014.The incorrigible sycophants of Congress could see ony Rahul Gandhi as their hope to save their party from all its ills in the future elections .It is also true there is a paucity of young leaders  who could get acceptance at the national level in congress.I don't like to  blame the congressmen for their dynastic politics.It has become the order of the day in all fields.Congressmen have reconciled to this fact because only if they approve RG as their leader,they can also in turn promote their wards to succeed them. I wrote a post on 'Monarchy,democrcy and dynasty' in April 2009.A recent survey states nearly 30 % of our MP's are dynasts.I do not know if charisma can be inherited !.The only advantage could be legitimising leadership succession.In a democratic country any one can become the number one in a party, if majority of the party members are in his or her favour. But the question of his credentials comes only when he is judged by his performance.I agree we can not prejudge any one.It is said even in China the sons and daughters of those in power weild considerable influence and are known as 'Red princes'.Congress has made its choice. Now it is for the electorates to make their choice at the time of elections.Congress has just made RG as its vice president .I don't know why BJP should give knee jerk reactions and get jittery.Democracy gives us the feeling of making a choice. Most of the time it is about making a  chocie  among the worsts.There can be small choices among rotten apples.I also believe there are no safe choices.Every choice is beset with risks.Because we could be misguided in our choices and by the time we come to know about it ,it could be too late to correct.Then we have to find a way to live with it .He who has a choice has troubles and pain is the proverb.

Will national parties learn the lesson ?

Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party won 224 Assembly seats in the just concluded polls to UP assembly and in the process shattered both the so called national parties, the Congress and the BJP to obscurity.There is a lesson to be learnt for these parties.Unless there is a strong regional leader with grass root support,it is difficult to  guide these parties to electoral wins,in states.Regional aspirations have to be appreciated by these parties .There is no way a party can be run by bosses sitting at the party high command. Ignoring local sentiments,pride and aspirations have cost these parties irreparable losses at the polls.Imposing leaders from the top and ignoring regional sentiments have resulted in congress losing many states,over the years. In fact the growth and success of regional parties lies in the fact that people want their regional leaders to grow in stature.It appears in UP,like TamilNadu ,it is going to be either BSP or SP and never Congress or BJP .It must be remembered both Mulyam and Mayawati are local heavy weights and there are no one in Congress or BJP to match them. In national parties like Congress and BJP due to manifold dissident groups, each group tries to push down leaders who grow in stature by pulling strings at the party high command.

Wherever there was a strong leader at the regional level,national parties have fared better .Narendra Modi is a strong man par excellence for the BJP and that gave him the strength to deliver and he had won consecutive elections in Gujarat for the BJP.Late YSR was a popular congress leader of AP.On his strengths the party romped to power in AP.It remains to be seen the fate of AP congress  in future elections sans YSR . TDP & TRP are going to give a tough fight to congress in AP and it won't be a surprise if congress losses its stronghold in this southern state also . It must be borne in mind TDP & TRP are parties born out of regional aspirations and regional pride.Their leaders are still popular among the public in AP.After the demise of Kamaraj,Congress is yet to see a towering leader from Tamilnadu.The void is not filled up because the state unit is dictated by  congress's high command .It is no surprise congress could not unseat the Dravidian parties from power since 1967.Congress may fail again if it pursues the same policy of ignoring local sentiments and pride. The Punjab victory for BJP is because of its strong local ally Shiromani Akali Dal .Congress retaining Manipur or BJP wresting Goa from Congress is insignificant as long as the national parties did not make any headway in important states like UP and Punjab .

The only good fall out of regional parties becoming stronger is that the union government has become truly federal,since neither of the two so called national parties can get absolute majority of its own in any of the future elections to the parliament. Already the leftists have strong bastions in Kerala,West Bengal and Tripura.Congress making big inroads in these states would be a wishful thinking.Even if leftists fail in West Bengal,it would only be advantage Mamta,another firebrand regional leader,whom congress finds it difficult to contain.Down South Jayalalitha would be another strong leader eroding Congress chances in next parliamentary elections .At this rate,if these two parties don't mend their ways they would soon lose their national party status and become a party with stronghold in few regional pockets,which is also diminishing at a faster pace.

How to end Lokpal impasse ?

The lokpal bill stalemate is becoming murkier as each day passes .Anna's fast enters the sixth day.He and his team is steadfast that their draft bill should be tabled in parliament to end the impasse.Another social activist Aruna Roy has come out with another lokpal draft bill and  she has presented it to the standing committee . The government wants Anna to present their draft bill also to the standing committee,which team Anna has rejected. Team Anna alleges the standing committee has corrupt leaders as its members.Aruna Roys's draft suggests separate institutions to deal with corruption. A lokpal for MP's including the PM , a vigilance Commission for bureacracy and  a separate lokpal for Judiciary without compromising its independence.On top of it a public grievance lokpal to address citizen's grievances and whistleblowers.Aruna Roy is also a member of the National Advisory Council headed by Sonia Gandhi. It could be an orchestrated move by the government to wriggle out of the impasse and weaken the Anna team.Aruna also said the Left parties and BJP are favourably inclined to her draft.

It must be noted none of the major political parties except TDP have come out openly in support of the Jan lokpal bill draft by Anna's team. The left has announced country wide protests on Aug 23 for withdrawal of government's lokpal bill.But they have not explicitly said they are in favour of Anna's draft bill.Left  merely said let the government bring a new bill.Karat said at a meeting of the so called third front, a unanimous decision was taken that the government's version is ineffective.But at the same time Karat said they did not discuss Jan lokpal bill.The nine parties are the four Left parties, Telugu Desam Party, Biju Janata Dal, Rashtriya Lok Dal, AIADMK and the Janata Dal (Secular).Perhaps this is what Kejriwal claims that he has the support of nine parties except BJP.But team Anna should remember they have not said any where they are in agreement with their version of the bill,Probably they want to play it safe .Because of the hype created by the media and the angry mood of the public,political parties want to line up with the popular sentiment.
All parties are vociferously protesting only over government's attempt to stifle democratic protests and they are not supporting Anna's draft..Because many of the provisions of anna's draft are against the political class.Another reason for the silence on the part of the political parties on Jan lokpal draft is the fact that there is growing support to Anna's movement .All political parties have guaged the public anger against graft and corruption in high places.The BJP is also staging a country wide protest to highlight UPA scams and government's attempt to suppress protests. Look how carefully these political parties have given reasons for their protest .No where they have said they are protesting in favour of Jan Lokpal .But at the same time they want to cash in the popular sentiment against the incumbent government.

Varun Gandhi of BJP is moving  a Jan lokpal draft as a private member's bill in parliament  But it is not clear if he is doing it with the permission of the party .But BJP is non committal about their support to Anna's bill.Independent Rajya Sabha member  Rajiv chandrasekhar is also moving another private member's bill  incorporating few provisions of Anna's draft bill.Probably the parliament can debate the salient features of all the four bills and arrive at a commonly agreed version and get it passed by the parliament. But it remains to be seen ,how far it deviates from the stringent provisions of Anna's draft bill.But both these bills are unlikely to be taken up in the current session of parliament,since a private member's bill can be introduced only after a month's notice.On the other hand Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi want the government to come forward and start negotiations to resove the impasse.The silence of all leading political parties on Anna's Jan Lokpal bill is intriguing. The ruling UPA is beleaguered.It is apparent none of the political parties want a detailed discussion on Jan Lokpal bill in parliament.But Varun Gandhi introducing the jan lokpal bill as a private member's bill will force parties to break their silence.

It was  quite a funny sight to see children less than 7 years holding 'I am Anna' and "we want Jan Lokpal bill " placards in one of the protests.Surely some one was behind these protests by kids. But  it has to be conceded that suddenly Anna has become a youth icon.Youngsters across the nation have taken an aggressive position against the central government.It is true that Anna has awakened India for a noble cause -fighting corrupton.In fact all political parties and political leaders are baffled over the support Anna has garnered nation wide.

Somehow the impasse over Lopal bill has to be broken. Deadlocks can be resolved only by dialogues and compromises.Team anna refusing to budge from their rigid stand gives the impression that they are stretching it  too far .Forcing the government to table "'my bill or no bill '' will never bring the government to the negotiation table.Due to the frenzy created  by the popular support  for the agitation ,Anna gave an ultimatum to the government .This did not go well with many.From the government side , the argument that corruption can not be completely curbed by lokpal or petty corruption can not be wiped out  does not in any way help to pass a strong lokpal bill. We have to make a begining somewhere.I feel when corruption at high places are curbed corruption at lower levels will also start to mitigate. Anna being a Gandhian is refusing for a compromise .Strong men don't compromise .But Team anna and government has to find a middle ground where they can broadly agree and end this impasse.But utmost care should be taken to draft a bill with all possible good clauses and no loopholes.Everyone can recogonise a good compromise .Becuase it works and makes sense.

A much delayed confession

26 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy the union government and Arjun Singh has come out with statements realising the irredeemable deep scars the catastrophe has caused on Bhopal residents and the extended agonies and woes suffered by the second generation of the Bhopal gas victims. Arjun Singh the then MP chief Minister now says P.V.Narasimha Rao,the then Home minister was responsible for Union Carbide Chairman Anderson to escape arrest and get out of India.Arjun Singh now says Manmohan Singh has to talk to Obama and get Anderson extradited to India.Home Minister P.Chidambaram admitted Candidly in the lok Sabha that the Government didn't address the Bhopal tragedy seriously.The government has now gone on record that it would pursue the case against Anderson seriously.The wisdom has dawn on the government long after the horse has run out of the stable. It is strange that those in government and the judiciary forgot the dictum Justice delayed is Justice denied.The judiciary has also contributed to the drubbing of the Bhopal people.Originally the case was filed under section 304 causing death due to negligence.But former chief justice Ahmedi in a review petition changed the case to section 304(II)culpable homicide not amounting to murder.Veerappa Moily said the charges were diluted by the court.Facing flak from the media and gas victims the former chief Justice even ofered to resign then.PC was careful in making a political statement that successive governments have failed in dealing with the Bhopal tragedy thereby implicating the BJP also.This is also true.PC said the government has a time bound action plan to address the Bhopal gas victims.A government talking about time bound action plan to the victims of a serious disaster after 26 years is ignonimous.The government now talks about disposing the accumulated toxic waste at the plant site.The neglect by the government has already inflicted greivous damages to the residents of Bhopal.More than the neglect the continued apathy by successive governments to the Bhopal gas victims even deprived them of their legitimate compensation from a callous Union carbide management.The Bhopal tragedy is considered as the worst ever industrial disaster in world history so far.It is very appalling to note when a tragedy of this magnitude has struck the nation,the government at the centre and the state remained silent and ineffective.The government was then toothless and failed to provide succour to the suffering public.25 years after the tragedy the trail of the tragedy continues to affect successive generations.Even after 25 years of the gruesome incident neither the State government or the Central government has a learnt bitter lesson or is equipped to tackle,may God forbid, a similar disaster.Since the toxic waste has not been cleaned up by Union Carbide after the tragedy,there has been a sustained pollution of the environment.44 tons of toxic residue and 25 tons of alpha napthol are reportedly still lying around the abandoned factory premises.It is reported that soil,ground water ,vegetables and even breast milk has traces of the toxin even today.The usually vocal environment minister Jairam Ramesh is a mute spectator to this environment pollution.With in hours of the tragedy on that fateful night of December 3 1984, Bhopal was literally cluttered with corpses,carcasses of  bufaloes,cows,dogs and birds.The death toll was more than 23000.More than 5.7 lakh people were affected directly and indirectly crippled for life and thousands of families are affected for generations to come.The doctors were not trained to attend to a disater of this type.The Bhopal children are born blind,deaf or mute,lame ,with limbs twisted,webbed fingers,cerebral palsy and hare lips.Still born children can not be recogonised as human.There were 850 pregnant women living in 1 KM radius at the time of the tragedy.Nearly half of them gave birth to still born children.The victims have been fighting for justice for 25 long years.After 25 years those in authority accept that they have bungled and botched up handling the gas tragedy victims.The government messed up in many areas .Chronology of the bungle is as follows.

The tragedy occured on December 3,1984.

On December 7 Union Carbide Chairman Anderson was allowed to flee the country.

By passing an Act on Bhopal tragedy the government deprives the victims from going to courts seeking compensation in 1985.

Goverment agrees with Union carbide for a paltry compensation of 47 billion us dollars.

SC admits a review petition on compensation in 1989.

SC orders an interim relief of Rs 200 per month to victims of the tragedy.

In 1994 while the Union Carbide case is subjudice,government allows Carbide to sell its sahres.

In 1996 the case was changed from death due to negligence to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

In 2001 Dow Chemicals acquires Union Carbide.

In 2002 Victims stage rallies to remove toxic accumulations in abandoned plant.

In 2002 CBI says Anderson is not traceable.

In 2003 US courts dismisses plea to hear the case and punish Anderson in US.

In 2004 US refuses to extradite Anderson.

In 2004 Us courts order Dow chemicals to clean up the factory premises.

In 2004 july SC orders payment of Rs 25000/per head compensation to 5.7 lakh victims

In 2005 SC orders full settlement of Compensation before 1st of April.

In 2005 Victims want Dow chemicals to clean up the plant area off toxic waste.

In 2006 Manmohan singh refuses to accede to the victims pleas to take action against Dow chemicals.

In 2008 startling disclosures were made by an RTI applicant that BJP recieved an 1 lakh donation  from DOw chemicals in 2006-2007.

In june 2010 seven of the Union Carbide officials were sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and were mmediatley released on bail.

The only solace to the Bhopals gas tragedy victims is that the government has accepted the fact  that they have failed.Now it remains to be seen if the government is really serious about its commitments made on the floor of the house to the people of Bhopal.

Quid Pro quo politics of India

The Indian general elections are scheduled to be held from 16th April 2009 to 13th May 2009, and the new government would be formed on 2nd June 2009.714 milllion Indians are going to exercise their franchise to decide on the next Indian government.As one of world's largest democracy,the Indian general elections would assume greater importance and the entire world would be anxiously awaiting for the outcome.This is especially so in the context of the turmoils surrounding India's South Asian neighbours.The combined India,Pakistan and Bangladesh got independecne 61 years ago.For most part of the 61 years, Pakistan was ruled by military and the voice of the general public was stifled.Look at the current turmoils.The army chief threatens the democratically elected president on governance.India played a role in the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.But Bangladesh also had its own share of political turmoils and military coups.Bangladesh's father of the nation Mujibur Rehman was killed with in 7 months of assuming office by a group of army officers.The recent revolt by the Bangladesh Rifles says 'all is not well' with Bangladesh also.The three decades old Sri Lankan crisis and the systematic annihilation of an ethnic race has made it almost impossible for the Tamil and Sihala community to remain together in peace, even if a political solution is arrived, at a future date, with in the constitutional frame work of an united Sri Lanka.Another South Asian country Afganistan is troubled by the Talibans and also the US troop presence.
In this context the Indian general elections assume greater significance.By far the Indian general elections are free and fair,considering the enormity of holding such a difficult democratic process,country wide,without much hiccups, is itself a challenging task.Barring the recent controversy,between the CEC and EC,the autonomous body conducting elections in India deserves praise.Ironically,despite so many deiversities the common Indian thread has become strong,after the rise of regional parties in Indian politics.The rise of regional parties have made it almost mandatory to give them a share in the centre's coalition politics.The federal representation has in a way served to boost the regional pride also.The era of coalition politics has forced the main contenders like Congress and BJP to accomodate the regional parties on a quid pro quo basis.This has strengthened the bond between parties.Another fall out of this mutually beneficial arrangement,is the national outlook of these regional parties.Regional parties are forced to accomodate the national political agenda of Parties like Congress and BJP with a view to cling on to power.This has forced many regional parties to put in cold storage many of their essentially chauvnistic and jingoistic agenda.One finds the democracy in India is growing stronger after every general elections.The quid pro quo politics is only making Indian politcal scenario more interesting with each party vying with the other to prove their vote bank strength and thereby increase their bargaining powers, in forging electoral alliances.
Indian electorate should exercise their franchise to elect an accountable government,a government with a mission to uplift the quality of life of all strata of people,a government that respects law,human rights,freedom of its citizens,a government that administers justice with equity and fairness,a government that is committed to tackle terrorism and other extrimist activities. Indian electorates are well informed and would surely use some yardstick to judge each political party and each candidate before casting their valuable franchise.As the noted Political Analyst and satirist Cho Ramaswamy often says,the issue before the Indian electorate is very simple."Choose the lesser evil".

Indo US nuclear deal

The Manmohan singh government is under pressure to go ahead and approach IAEA to ratify the India specific safeguards. Time is running out for the Union government . The leftist allies of UPA are stalling this move, primarily because it is a deal with US. They don't seem to have a valid reason other than this. They are using the 'support pull out' so effectively, since majority of the congressmen are also not in favour of a snap poll. Governments failure to control inflation, and the recent gains by BJP in the just concluded assembly polls have made the congress, and its other allies minus leftists in UPA wary of early polls.

Nuclear power generation is the only answer to our increased energy demands. These energy demands will only grow further in the years to come.Further growth and development in nuclear power generation is possible only with external technological assistance.Most importantly for our nuclear fuel requirements, we have to depend on others. Continous hike in crude oil prices will be a regular affair in the coming years.There are no signs of crude oil prices coming down.under these circumstances, nuclear energy is the only viable alternative. After the pokhran test,other nuclear countries are not giving technological assistance.We are not a signatory to the NPT also. Getting fuel from NSG countries is a must for our nuclear plants.

Besides,as PM feels, it is a question of credibility for the country.India will cut a sorry figure in front of the international community. It will surely be a step backward for India. BJP is opposing the deal, for political compulsions. The scientific community, however has both supporters for the deal and those who oppose the deal.

By and large, majority of the public are in favour of the deal, as long as the deal does not jeopardise India's sovereignty.If SJP comes to the rescue and supports the government on the nuclear deal issue, the Manmohan singh government must muster courage to go ahead with the deal, at the risk of severing the ties with the leftists in the interest of the nation.

But the SJP could strike a bargain with congress.Support could be extended for the deal by the SJP in return for a consideration.Obviously the consideration would be dumping the 33 % women reservation Bill in cold storage again. It is a pity political parties have a self centered agenda also,apart from their ideologies. Most of the time compromises are made on ideologies, but not on the hidden agenda. Well, that is politics!