[Reader-list] Election Forecast

[Rakesh Iyer]

Dear Kshamendra

I think it's also somewhat unfair to say that in seats Modi campaigned, if
the BJP did poorly, it's because of Modi. Similarly, it's also wrong to say
that Rahul Gandhi was a winning factor for Congress simply because in
majority of seats which he campaigned in, the Congress won (which is 76 out
of 120).

The larger point which does come out from this is that Modi has a bad habit
of making attacks personal, which is not the way elections should be
contested. I can accept that Manmohan and Advani have to attack the other
side during election times, but let's attack each other's policies rather
than family and physical strength. Congress can be attacked for not bringing
enough development in the nation; what's deplorable is that it instead is
attacked on 'budhiya-gudiya' politics. How is that related to the poor's
benefit?

Also, like Advani sahab, he also has the habit of running away when his back
is up against the wall, as this election proves. After the results came, he
was nowhere to be found! And we need leaders who have the courage to accept
their defeat and come back. This is why Indira was a respected adversary
even among her opponents.

There are many issues which decide as to why someone wins from a particular
constituency either at the MLA or at the MP level. Hence, to prove this,
there have to be surveys of the kind Yogendra Yadav does. And then only can
we think about arriving at some conclusions.

Regards

Rakesh