By the end of day, 16th May 2009, the people of India had given a clear mandate to UPA. The right wing - NDA was left whining and the left wing - Third front was a disaster. UPA had claimed the centre. With absolutely zero knowledge in politics whatsoever I should be insane to even make an attempt to write this blogpost but I will continue. It has to be by far one of the satisfactory election result the citizens of India must have awaited.
BJP held on to its hardcore hindutva bandwagon and the Ram mandir issue. At the time when the global economy is in crisis and with unwanted instability in our neighbourhood perhaps BJP would have been better off to have given more space to progress and development in their propaganda. L K Advani's constant attacks on PM Manmohan Singh was always going to be futile as the latter's persona, without any doubt, demands more respect even from an apolitical person. BJP would have done themselves a great favour had they reprimanded Varun Gandhi for his anti-secular excursions and gained a bit of political mileage. And showcasing N. Modi as the future leader, even with commendable development work done by his government in Gujrat, would surely run some chill down the spine of minority communities for his alleged associations in post Godhra riots. BJP certainly lacked good national leaders, for once they might have surely missed the charm of Atal Bihari Vajpaye and shrewdness of Pramod Mahajan.
The Third front - CPI, CPM etc - right from its inception was dismissed by most veteran politicians and dreaded by industrialists. Having done well in West Bengal and Kerala and largely dependent on regional politics, the Third front might have grown over confident for even thinking that they had an outside chance to form the government at centre. Even the investors were wary of left coming into power as they always have a tendency to oppose reforms and are anti-west which severely dents India's chances to progress when the world is looking more at globalization. The left parties parting ways with UPA can be considered as a blessing in disguise and augured well for industrialisation.
UPA's biggest gain was seen in the states of UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Rahul Gandhi has done some phenomenal work in last couple of years and it paid rich dividends specially in UP and Bihar where the Congress decided to go alone without any pre-poll alliances. Laloo-Paswan combo was dejected by Bihar and SP and BSP had similar fate in UP. Their alliance with Mamta's TMC's did wonders in the left dominated West Bengal. MNS played spoilsport for BJP-Sena alliance by eating into a huge chunk of votes which was only welcomed by congress and NCP. Another major set back for left was in Kerala where they had a strong support. Manmohan Singh being projected as UPA's PM candidate was well received by the people of India. The urban India sees a lot of potential and has faith in his governance and the rural India was only acknowledging the loan waivers for farmers, free electric supply for families below poverty line, NREGA etc. Though many would question their resolve in handling Pakistan post Mumbai attacks specially the urban denizens but rural India was going to be least bothered as roti, kapda and makaan remains to be their priority.
Perhaps the biggest setback of Indian politics lies in regional politics. It can do good in assembly polls but certainly plays spoilsport in Lok sabha elections. Indian electorate can do good for themselves if they think about India in Lok sabha elections and their respective states while voting in assembly polls.
Its just a 'demo' crazzyyy ... the real experiment has just begun.
