Everyone wants to be PM

By O J George

The grand Indian election circus would conclude in May and the results would be out on May 16.

No party or dispensation would secure the magic mark of a simple majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.

Then the substitute arrangement would be to call in the party which gets the largest number of seats. The Congress Party and the BJP are hoping against hopes to reach the 150 mark. Then other parties would come to the aid of either and a broader bandwagon of regime would be in place.

Incidentally, the politically weak President Prathibha Patil would have her best opportunity to put her foot down for the first time, if the need arises in selecting an incumbent government from permutations and combinations.

BJP’s L K Advani has been a contender for the PM’s post for a long time. If at all there is a threat from Narendra Modi, that has been temporarily tackled by offering him the post after Advani’s time.

Congress would definitely settle on continuance of Dr Manmohan Singh, if it musters enough strength. Perhaps after some time, Rahul Gandhi would step in with the blessings of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.

Mayawati of BSP, Sharad Pawar of NCP, Lalu Prasad Yadav of RJD, Mulayam Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party, Jayalalitha of AIADMK, Deve Gowda of Janata Dal (S) are looking for opportunities.

Like the tactics displayed in “Yes, Prime Minister”, Prakash Karat of CPM has also said yes and no to the post. No one else had mooted it, but he has offered his presence felt.

The very idea of the CPM joining the Cabinet without a clear party voice that could be an input seems ludicrous. It looks like the CPM is weakening.

In sum, there will be a grand thamasha on the politicalscape of India after May 16

Election waves in Kerala
By O J George

Kerala goes to the polls on April 16. Campaigning ends on April 14 eveningThat is the day of the Vishu, the festival which heralds prosperity and opulence.It is a harvest festival. Climate changes have unsettled the seasonal punctuality. Still Vishu is something that is long anticipated by children who would get cash gifts and new dress.

Our politicians are sweating it out on the roads to woo voters. LDF appears to be in a shambles. It seems someone is bent on wrecking the bandwagon. Lately there has been war of words between Pinarayi Vijayan and Janata Dal’s Veerendrakumar.

V.S.Achuthanandan is a trapped Chief Minister, but he is not a trapped party president, says Veerendrakumar.

CPI has not been happy with seat sharing exercise, Janata Dal is bruised, and there is the ever-present faction feud between Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan.

Congress Party, as always, has been buffeted by nomination worries. It seems the leaders have got over the woes. Congress is hoping for a landslide in Kerala, which it will not get in any other state.

The problem is that the voters will have to wait till May 16 for the results, after casting their votes on April 16.

Election euphoria catching up in spite of hot season

By O J George

It is hot season in India and the election fever is reaching a crescendo particularly for the Lok Sabha elections in states where the first phase of polling would be held on April 16.

The candidates have to muster all their resources and energy to drive the point home that they have the potential to win.

Social organizations and community brands are gaining added importance in states like Kerala. NSS, SNDP Yogam and other entities are being enticed by all and sundry. Afterall, a few votes would turn the tide.

PDP,NDF, Popular Front etc are in great demand. Their fundamentalist proclivities are side-stepped for vote gains.

When the CPM got endeared itself to PDP, UDF is acceptable to NDF or even the Popular Front. Luckily, UDF leaders are not sharing platform with NDF or Popular Front, whereas some of the CPM leaders have already sat with PDP leaders.

Adding a few MPs in the Lok Sabha is crucial to mainstream parties like the Congress and BJP. Left parties also want to gain good strength.

Hats off to the democratic exercise