05-22-2009, 09:09 AM
The performance of the various political parties in the just concluded General election has not been on the expected lines. While for the BJP and the Left the result is quite on the negative side, the gains of the Congress and its associates have been surprisingly good. In fact, at many States the Congress had not expected such positive results.
While analyzing the results it appears that the voters by and large have accepted that the previous UPA governmentâs performance has been somewhat acceptable. This is the main reason for the success of Congress Party. Now if we accept this position, it throws up several questions. The first of it is that the majority of Hindu voters have not shown any special preference for the BJP , and this cuts across the voting pattern of most of the States except Karnataka and Chattishgarh. In these two States also it may be the reflection of the performance of the respective BJP run State Governmentâs performance rather than the Hindu ideological cause. The pre poll noise that was made about forcible conversion to Christianity had no impact on the average voters, as is evident from the voting pattern in Orissa.
A few in the forum have expressed the view of EVM fraud and certain other factors. The question of EVM fraud on a national scale can be completely ruled out . If such a mass rigging on a national scale remains undetected by the present day electronic media and the Civil Society, the Government that can organize such a perfect fraud deserves to be voted to power for its efficiency. Therefore, such a large scale fraud can be easily ruled out. Such excuses have not even been put forward by the defeated candidates.
The BJP leadership has accepted the defeat most graciously and it is presently in the process of finding out the various factors that have been responsible for its poor performance. Some of their leaders have given vent to different reasons for this defeat , but all have by and large accepted that the rural population voted for the Congress right across the country as a result of the 100 work guarantee programme that was introduced by the UPA Government. In this corrupt ridden system, the full extent of the programme has not yet been felt and if UPA in its second innings do some improvement in the system, its performance in the next general election may further improve. It is also expected that in the next few years, the UPA will undertake many more rural economic development programmes as they have understood where the real voters can be influenced.
The Muslim votes, secularism etc are perhaps increasingly becoming minor factors and so is the cause of voting on religious lines. The revival of Hindu religious beliefs , if made a poll agenda is not going to take any party to a success in the future elections. So the Ram Mandir and other issues are no longer going to gather votes for the BJP. I feel the BJP itself has understood the changed mood of the electorate and will certainly change its strategy in the years to come.It has to provide forward looking modern developmental programme before the electorate to win any future general election in India.
While analyzing the results it appears that the voters by and large have accepted that the previous UPA governmentâs performance has been somewhat acceptable. This is the main reason for the success of Congress Party. Now if we accept this position, it throws up several questions. The first of it is that the majority of Hindu voters have not shown any special preference for the BJP , and this cuts across the voting pattern of most of the States except Karnataka and Chattishgarh. In these two States also it may be the reflection of the performance of the respective BJP run State Governmentâs performance rather than the Hindu ideological cause. The pre poll noise that was made about forcible conversion to Christianity had no impact on the average voters, as is evident from the voting pattern in Orissa.
A few in the forum have expressed the view of EVM fraud and certain other factors. The question of EVM fraud on a national scale can be completely ruled out . If such a mass rigging on a national scale remains undetected by the present day electronic media and the Civil Society, the Government that can organize such a perfect fraud deserves to be voted to power for its efficiency. Therefore, such a large scale fraud can be easily ruled out. Such excuses have not even been put forward by the defeated candidates.
The BJP leadership has accepted the defeat most graciously and it is presently in the process of finding out the various factors that have been responsible for its poor performance. Some of their leaders have given vent to different reasons for this defeat , but all have by and large accepted that the rural population voted for the Congress right across the country as a result of the 100 work guarantee programme that was introduced by the UPA Government. In this corrupt ridden system, the full extent of the programme has not yet been felt and if UPA in its second innings do some improvement in the system, its performance in the next general election may further improve. It is also expected that in the next few years, the UPA will undertake many more rural economic development programmes as they have understood where the real voters can be influenced.
The Muslim votes, secularism etc are perhaps increasingly becoming minor factors and so is the cause of voting on religious lines. The revival of Hindu religious beliefs , if made a poll agenda is not going to take any party to a success in the future elections. So the Ram Mandir and other issues are no longer going to gather votes for the BJP. I feel the BJP itself has understood the changed mood of the electorate and will certainly change its strategy in the years to come.It has to provide forward looking modern developmental programme before the electorate to win any future general election in India.