The election results have come out.The wise Indian electorates, as is their wont have proved their wisdom once again.They have voted for stability,development and communal harmony.Most importantly all opportunist alliances have been handed out a drubbing.This can be guaged from the dismal performance of the Leftists as expected,the near wash out of the PMK and MDMK and a shocker for the AIADMK,despite their new and sudden ‘avatar’ as the saviour of Lankan Tamils.
The handling of the Mumbai terror attack,global melt down not affecting India much,nuke deal have all been in favour of the congres.Advani calling Manmohan a ‘weak PM’ did not find any takers.Congress has benefitted from states like Kerala,West Bengal,Andhra,UP,Maharashtra,Rajasthan,Delhi,Tamilnadu.The gains that congress had from Kerala and West Bengal have become crucial in the final analysis.This along with the favourable verdict from Andhra and Tamil nadu have sealed it in Congres’s favour.Barring Karnataka, all the three southern states have voted for UPA.This proved to be a decisive factor in bringing UPA back to power.Neverthless UPA may require the support of a handful more seats for an absolute majority.Hopefully,they would be able to secure the required numbers from the third front or the so called fourth front.Congress may even avoid seeking the support of SP,who could turn out to be a needling partner, in case they are forced to harness their support to form the government.
Congress may have to address to the boundless aspirations of the UPA partners seeking ministerial berths.There could be possible disgruntlement among UPA partners over allocation of cabinet berths and allocation of portfolios.But this time Congress is on a firm wicket and has better leverage and would act decisively.Congress would keep key portfolios like Home,defence External affairs and finance with them.There could be a tussle for other important portfolios.Kerala which did not have sufficient cabinet berths can this time hope to get a sizeable representation.DMK may not get as many ministers as last time.Sashi Taroor from Kerala could surely get a ministerial berth.
The slide for the CPM has started eversince Karat took charge.He has been a hardliner and was not accomodative like his predecessor Surjeet.As never before internal rumblings from the party came to fore and was not a cohesive unit.The BJP for their part, as the credible alternative to the largest national party congress should shelve their rightist inclination and move towards the centre as was being done during the days of Atalji.Must play down fundamentalist ideolgies.Having conceded the defeat gracefully BJP should now function as a responsible constructive opposition to improve their chances of coming back to power in 2014. BJP has level headed leaders as their top brass and one hopes they would live up to the expectations.
Filed under: Makara jyothi
