> NEW DELHI, May 13 -- In a stunning upset, the Hindu nationalist-led
> coalition that has governed India for the last five years conceded defeat
> Thursday after early parliamentary election results pointed to a clear win
> by the secular opposition alliance led by India's Congress Party.
Exit polls had predicted a hung parliament, but nobody expected BJP led coalition's final tally would be as low as 190 out of 543 seats in the parliament.
> The outcome of the three-week elections marks a dramatic and unexpected
> reversal for Vajpayee and the BJP-led coalition, which only a few weeks
> ago had been expected to coast to victory on the strength of India's
> booming economy,
Indian economy has grown steadily at 5.5 -6 % per annum for last 20-25 years. There is no significant acceleration in last five years.
> The Bush administration has enjoyed warm relations with Vajpayee's
> government, with which it shares common views on Islamic extremism and
> economic policy.
Islamic extremism is a reality. There is nothing anti-imperialist about Islamic extremism. Indian Left is simultaneously opposed to both, Hindu and Islamic extremism.
> Swaraj added, however, that the election results are "not a verdict for
> Sonia Gandhi to become prime minister either . . . We should not conclude
> that people of India have accepted a foreigner as prime minister. My mind
> still does not accept Sonia Gandhi as the prime minister."
Indian constitution does not disqualify foreign born Indian citizens from holding any position in the govenment. But the question of one's origins, roots etc. is a central question for fascist ideologies.
> Besides attacking Gandhi's foreign roots, the BJP and its allies also
> campaigned on the theme of "India Shining," highlighting the country's
> rapid economic growth and its success in capitalizing on the boom in
> outsourcing of service jobs from the United States and other developed
> countries.
Software exports are just about 2 per cent of India's GDP. Capital accumulation in India is largely driven by internal markets.
> The theme played well within the country's growing -- and predominantly
> urban -- middle class, but it apparently failed to resonate in the
> impoverished rural villages where most of India's billion-plus people
> still live.
BJP has lost even in big cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
>Janata ouster is a good thing, no? Ulhas?
>Wojtek
Yes, no question about it. Indian CPs are not small sectarian groups. They have nearly 1 million party members and poll 25-30 million votes. CPs will support the Congress ministry, but I would be surprised if they join the government.
Ulhas