NDA Routed

This was pretty shocking for everyone. No one expected such a devastating defeat. Having watched all the reviews and analyses about NDA's failure on TV and tons of websites, it is clear that the coalition went wrong in a lot of places. While the leaders meet today and discuss what went wrong, here are my $0.02

1. Neglecting state politics in the south: Andhra pradesh and TamilNadu costed the NDA nearly 50 seats. Mr.Vajpayee should have been a bit prudent enough in judging southern politics. People in Telangana have been fighting for a separate state, this he should have considered in his manifesto and not let away Chandrashekhara Rao, to break away from TDP. Mr.Rao single handedly today sits with 5 LS seats. Not to mention Kerala, which has become made Harkishen Singh Surjeet a king maker today.

2. Extensive propoganda of the India Shining factor: This is fine for you and me, who sit in urban India, thinking about economics, reforms etc. What about our dear farmer, whose only deal with life is to see whether he gets a good yield of crop. It doesnt really matter for him, if there are 6 lane roads coming up connecting the state capitals. In fact this was one of the foremost factors in Gujarath, where the farmers were dissatisfied with the Modi government. The frustration of the people was evident when Mr.Murali Manohar Joshi lost from Allahabad.

3. Inconsistent Stand: The NDA, in order to deviate itself from the hindutva factor, lost its ground amongst Hindus. It didnt come as a surprise when the BJP lost in Ayodhya, Mathura and Varanasi. At the same time, several candidates like Shahnawaz Hussain who were supposed to bring in the secular feeling and garner the minority votes, lost. So the NDA, which aimed for a win-win situation with the Hindus as well as other religions, ended up losing everywhere. This is Rajneeti, a party cannot have a wavering stand. One of the foremost factors for the Left to garner so many seats today is thier consistency in policies. They might have the ideologies of the fifties but there is consistency.

4. Infighting: The party should have been a bit more careful about rebel candidates. Mr.Yashwant Sinha lost because of a rebel candidate camapaigning against him. Bihar, which was a NDA stronghold yeilded to Laloo's RJD. Infighting has costed the party atleast 10 - 15 seats in the Bihar, Jharkhand belt.

It doesnt really feel good when someone of a foriegn origin would sit in the PM's chair, but this is Rajneeti and the congress party has over 50 years of experience of ruling this country. Even after having lost eminent leaders like Madhav Rao Scindia and Rajesh Pilot, the party didnt stumble. There are still king makers, who can change the face of politics in the party. However it is clear that none of the parties can take the Indian voter for granted. The candidates have to nurse their constituenceies, take care of the people and listen to their woes and demands. After 50 years, I am really happy to see this amongst us countrymen. It may be disappointing to see Ms.Sonia Gandhi sitting in the PMO, but it is romoured that she might not last for more than 2 years. Worst case someone from RSS will assasinate her.