Elections'09:

Elections '09 are over with the best possible results. Its been a long time India has seen such a clear verdict in favour of any party (I don't see BJP's count in 1999 as very much clear ). Indian voters have got habit to deceive seasoned politicians and political analysts. When India was shining and there were exit polls suggesting re-election of NDA to center, Indian voters have thrown them out and this time around when they were saying that Mayawati will play Kingmaker's role or Queen herself, they have bitten her the dust. UP people have completely discarded her social engineering within two years of its inception.
It will be important to see results of Metros in this election as those were the cities marred with petrifying mujaheddin bomb attacks and those are the cities where global recession has deep impact. Surprisingly two of the metros Mumbai and Delhi have been won hands down by Congress, I don't think they were expecting it even in their dreams. And for such stupendous performance they cant deny credit to two of the astute politicians. Delhi, India's capital city is being served by Sheila aunty for long. She has served Delhi well and surely congress is eating fruits of that. Its renovated Delhi which hopes for better with Sheila and just because of her they have voted for Congress otherwise I don't see any reason any politician winning in Delhi after acquittal of Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler. If Sheila Dikshit continues her good work, I don't see congress loosing any of the Delhi seats even in 2014 elections. Another person who has made his mark in Metros is Raj Thakare. Literally he handed over victory to Congress-NCP in Maharashtra. His party is literally infant compared to many others but number of votes he has received makes it clear that Raj Thakare is there to stay. MNS ended up counting more than one Lakh votes in almost every Mumbai constituency, way more than the victory margin of Congress-NCP candidates. Most surprising thing which cant go unnoticed is, in two constituency they pushed Shivsena candidate to third spot. It will be important to follow him in coming days as he will start spreading his wings beyond Mumbai-Nashik-Pune.
One important thing to understand from election is that, Indian elections be it Parliamentary or Legislative are fought on local issues. Indian voters have completely decoupled their voting from national issues. If bomb attacks on Metros, recession or Taliban insurgency in Pakistan are national issues for India, then It has to be understood that Indian voters don't pay any importance to them while voting. Particularly for rural India, their daily bread and farming loans are the deciding factors. NREGA and farming loan waiver has helped congress win rural votes. Another important thing to be seen is typical voting pattern seen till now in India. Almost always incumbency creates quantifiable impact on government but it is not at all seen in this voting. Its not seen even in Andhra or Orissa assembly voting either. I don't know whom to credit for that as I don't think local governments are working any better and voters are happy with them. I think Indian voters are maturing and have decided to give more time to incumbent government.
I was thinking about the factors which helped congress won allover the India handsomely. And I could figure out hardly few. One important factor is triangular race. Almost everywhere (excluding Red dominated Bengal and Kerala) out of 543 seats we have seen triangular race and usual congress voters have remained loyal to them. the second factor is Rahul Gandhi. He understood that road to Delhi goes through UP. He concentrated on UP, decided to go on his own. That was one tactical but risky decision and surely that one decision has made it clear that another Gandhi scion will be India's prime minister sooner or later. Third and important factor is farming loan waiver and NREGA. You just cant deny that rural India, at least Congress ruled states have benefited largely due to it.
This election has also given couple of more things to follow in coming years. 1) Varun Gandhi; He has made a mark for himself, though it is through the hate speech, India will surely follow this firebrand "non-Hindu" Hindu extremist. 2) Narendra Modi, you can hate him but you cant neglect him. He is the only person in BJP who has nationwide acceptance from majority Hindu voters and who can create turn around in almost dead BJP 3) Ruling governments be it national or local have to understand that, if people of India are not heard then they need to be ready for Shoe-side attacks. It can happen anytime, anywhere. I don't think India believes in Satyagrah and March to hell as way of protest anymore. 4) And the last and most important thing is performance of young congress politicians. It is said that all the young congress politicians Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasad, Jyotiraditya Scindhia etc etc will be given cabinet portfolios, Young Indian blood will be keeping an eye on their performance and I am sure that their performance will be scrutinized to the minute levels.
Last words about election should be saved for one of the most prominent figures in Indian politics who is about to go in retirement, one person who has changed Indian politics upside down during mid 80's and 90's, Mr Lalkrishna Advani. He was undoubtedly deserving candidate for the post of Indian PM, but has to accept the truth. Thanks Advaniji for reinventing Hindu feeling amongst almost dead Hindus of India. Every Hindu will remember you for your contribution.
Jai Hind!!

Oh Finally!!!!
Its been a tough season for Ferrari so far. From the time I am following, I havent seen them in such worst situations. It took them 4 races to debut on points table. Though it wasnt a good display from Ferrari by first loosing race position and then with tighter fuel conditions,
being an ardent Ferrari fan, I just wish that they will capitalise on these 3 points and will continue as I have seen till now.