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The air was thick with speculation about the election process and expected andwished results. Lalu’s RJD, Paswans Lok Janshakti Party,Mulayam’s SamajwadiParty, Mayawati’s BSP, Jayalalitha’s AIADMK etc had prepared a wish list andexpectedmangoestogrowoncoconuttree.Theyneitherreapedthemangonorthecoconut.Thepragmaticregionalparty-BijuJanataDalactedpragmaticallyasitsally,theBJPhadbecomeawhitealabasteraroundNavinPatnaik’sneckwithitsrabidandaggressive policies on the ongoing struggle between Dalit Hindus and tribalChristians.Navinwasrewardedwiththeremovalofthenoosefromaroundhisneck.MamataBanerjee,thefirebrand,unpredictableandwhimsicalandarrogantBengalipoliticalpersonahadagoodcatchtakingadvantageofblindedpoliciesof theLeft

andtheirdetachmentfromgroundrealities.TheCongressalsoraninBengalclingingtotheapronstringofMamata.Narrowregionalvision,castedependenceandpoliticalarrogancedidnotpaydividendtoChandrababuNaiduandtheTamilAmma.TheLeft,whichalwayslooksatthepeopleandtheworldwithlefteyewereunabletosynchronizetheirvisionandrealizethatglobalizationofeconomyistheorderoftheday;linkingofIndianeconomywithglobaleconomycouldnotbestoppedwithrottenMarxistaxiomsandIndia requiredabroadernuclearunderstandingwith theglobalcommunity aspart of its self reliance inpowergeneration.They, like theRip VanWinkle of the demised communist philosophy, suddenly woke up and startedfantasizing the image of a Third Front with ramshackle wheels of Lalu, Paswan,Mulayam,MayaandAmma.Evenadream-cartcannotmoveonrottenwheels.Karat

&coareyettolearnthatCommunismisdeadandIndiancommunistsareonlyalabelon theoldbottle of putridMarxistwine.People of Indiaarenot ready to try themanymore.ThemainwarriorsCongressand the Bharatiya JanataPartyapproached the pollsmore or less with the same agenda and usual slogans of recriminations, blame-game, personal attacks, sacs full of secular overtures and bags full of communalovertones. Congress had a few advantages over the BJP. Its projection of mildmannered, soft speakingand immaculately honestManmohanSinghas the primeministerialcandidaterejectingcourtier’scacophonyofRahulasthenewPMplayedachordoftrustinPublicmind.Someruralorientedpoliciesofthelastgovernment,like

agriculturalloanremission,NREG,RojgarYojana,housingschemesetcprojectedapro-poorimage.AtthesametimeManmohan’slimitedsuccessintheeconomicfrontbyholdingtogethertheIndianeconomyinthefaceofglobalcollapse,lowerinflationrate and swing back in the share market also injected positive vibes in urbaneconomy.OnlythechronicheavyandaddictedinvestorslosttosomeextentduringtemporaryrecessionintheSensex.TheCongressgovernmenthadfailedtoarrestdeterioratinglawandordersituationandincreasingthrustsfromPakistanandBangladeshbasedjihaditanzeems.Buttheboldactionofremovingthehair-careHomeMinisterandinductionoftheoldhorseP.Chidambaram infused some confidence in the police and intelligence agencies,

thoughhedidpreciouslittleintheshorttimehegotinthelastshortstint.

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However,Manmohangovernmentsucceededfabulouslyinglobalizingthedastardlysea-borneattackonMumbaibyISIpetLashkar-e-Taiba.NeverbeforehadtheU.S.Israeli and British intelligence helped India in unison. Global intelligence inputcoupled with Indian inputs had succeeded in framing an iron cast charge againstPakistanbasedLeT.Afterinitialdithering,denialsandcoydemureposturesPakistan

wasforcedtoact.Well!Pakistanhadverylittlechoice.TheLet,Jais-e-Mohammad,Lashkar-e-JhanghviandtheTalibangroupshadstartedhurtingPakistanenormously.The suicidalpolicy ofZardari-Gilanigovernmentwas reversedunderUSpressure.Pakistan itself isnow themain theatre of jihadi activities. Despite failure of Indianagenciestopreventthesea-borneattack,inspiteofadvanceintelligencetheglobalbacking of India’s cause had won the day for Manmohan government. The mildmasterplayedtough.Incontrast,thoughfailureoftheCongressinsecurityfrontwasits main plank, the BJP led government in 1999 botched up the IC 814 hijackingincident.Byitsabjectsurrender tothedemandsofthe jihadistheBJPgovernmentdidearnsympathyoffewfamilieswhohadstageddailydharnabefore7RCR.Itdidnotpleasethecountryandtheglobalcommunity.Infact,itwasanowinsituationfor

whichnoonecanbeblamed.ButCongressuseditagainstBJPbyhittingbelowthebelt.HandlingofthesituationbyRAW,IBandtheconcernedpoliceforces(especiallyatAmritsar) exposed the chinks inIndianarmour.Thisone failurecompoundedallother failures. The one pyrrhic success in Mumbai gave enormous dividend toManmohangovernment.HisactionofremovingthechiefMinisterofMaharastraalsoclickedinpublicimagination.AllPoliticalpartiesmayagreeonaformula:thatnoneofthem would use a national tragedy as election plank. If we cannot agree oneverything,wecanagreeononethingthattheenemycanhitanytime,anywhereandatanytarget.Sonia’sactionoftargetingtheIC814incidentwasverydemeaninginnature.

The BJP led government, in general perception, had allowed the Kargil attackhappen,asthePM,DefenceandHomeMinisterswellunmindfulofsuchpossibilityinthemidstofpeacetalks.ThecolossalfailuresoftheRAW,IBandMilitaryIntelligencewere virtually covered up and instead of rolling of heads two strange thingshappened: theenquiry reportwasdumped, theRAWand IBchiefswererewardedwithgubernatorialposts. Thishadnot endearedtheBJP inpublic eye; though thearmyand Air Forcecameout with flying colours.These instances are beingcitedaboutinexperienceoftheBJPingoverningthecountryandtheirinabilitytoextractthemaximumfromthebureaucrats.TheBaboosareattunedtoCongresswhipping-rewarding;a legacyof theBritishpast.TheBJP isyet tomaster the trickshow toharnessanddrivethebigBaboos.

TothecreditofCongressitmustbesaidthatitsyouthfaceRahulGandhi,theever-smilingfaceofPriyankaandtheresolutelinesofdeterminationintheeyesandfaceofSoniaemittedpositivevibes.TheYoungistanIndianvotersweredrawnmoretotheCongressandinthefinaltallyitwasseenthatCongressreturnedmoreyouthMPsandthepositiveactionsgeneratedfeelingsofhopeinpublicminds.Theyapproachedthe electionwith positiveapproachesand aggressiveagenda despite desertion bytheLeftFront,RJD,LJP,andinthefaceofhumiliatingbargainingbyMulayamSingh.ThefunniestpartwasLaluYadavoffering3seatstoCongressinBihar.The BJP has very little young face in theparty; termingArun Jaitly andSushama

SwarajasyoungTurkswouldbeaninsulttoIndianyouth.BJPhasavastpoolofyouth power in the RSS and its limited cadres. But such youth cadres are notprojectedinplannedmanner;theyaresimplyaskedtoworship,dopranam,charan

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sparsh etc of the senior leaders and follow them like herd of cattle. There is nosystemof trainingthe youth leadersandgradually push them tothe forefront. Thegeriatric leaders cannot match the youthful vibes of young leaders like Rahul,Priyanka,Jyotiraditya,Sachinetc.Moreover,Rahulhadvisitedseveraluniversitiesandinstitutionstoinspiretheyouths.TheBJPandRSSleadersjustissuedsermons

anddidnotmakeefforttoexploitpotentialyouthsintheABVP,RSSandotherfrontorganisations. TheBJP does not have a resource pool in its youthwing who areallowedtograduatetohigherpositions.Theparty,ontheotherhand,wenttothepoleswithanartificialhypeandconcludedinference that the countrywas ready to reject theCongress for alleged failuresofManmohangovernment,minorityandDalitalienationfromCongress,LeftandcastesatrapsdesertingthemainadversaryandwithpresumptionsthatinAndhraPradeshTDP and Praja Rajyam Party would perform wonders. It’s over optimism of thecharismaofJayalalithawasnotbasedonimpactoftheSriLankanwaragainsttheLTTEandAIADMKfailuretoempathizewiththebeleagueredTamilciviliansinJaffna

andMullaitivuareas.DMKblewhotandcoldandtheagingsupremowentonatokenfast. Manmohan government’s open denunciation of Sri Lankan offensive andapparent neutrality on the issue had given ample opportunity to PresidentRajapakshatogoforthefinalpushwithliberalweaponsandpersonnelsupplyfromChina and Pakistan. India silently connived with the killing of over 20,000 TamilciviliansbygroundfiringandbombingbyPakistanipilotsflyingSriLankanfighters.TheBJP failed togaugethisdiplomaticsupportofDelhi toRajapaksha andat thesametimecarryingondiplomaticdemarchesforprotectingTamilinterest.Itisrathersurprising that a couple of former intelligence chiefs now in BJP camp could notdecipherthisnexusbetweenNewDelhi,ChennaiandColombo.

The hollow hype was accidentally discovered when a former governor in anortheasternstatedroppedinagatheringofformerbureaucratsandclaimedthathisparty(BJP)wouldscoreminimum180seats.Whenconfrontedwithstate-wisetallytheformerandnowgovernor-in-waitingfumbledandhisfigureof180collapsedlikepackofcards.AnotherBJPstalwartratherscowledatmewhen itwaspointedthatthat:MuslimswereinclinedtogowiththebestprotectorindifferentstatesandtherewouldbenoMuslimblock-voting;theDalitsweredisenchantedwithMayawatiforhernewlovefortheuppercastes;twomajorstates-BiharandOrissawereunderspellsofNitish Kumar and Navin Patnaik; Voters in MP, Gujarat and Uttaranchal weredisenchantedwiththerulingBJPandinRajasthantheywereangrywiththeformerRoyalGovernmentofVasundharaRaje.Thoughpoliticallyunattached,Iwastermed

as aCongress agentby the friend.Hewasnot ready toaccept that theBJPhadblundered in Orissa by pursuing blind pro-Hindutwa programme in Kandhmal,Narnendra Modi had lost considerable ground after his minister was indicted forcommunalriot,and that thegovernmentofMPhad lostgroundbecauseofseverecaste alienation, alienation of Muslim voters and maverick performance andscandalousanticsofsomeoftheministers.BJP’s lack of moderation, increase in shrill communal cries a la Varun GandhiepisodeandarrogantdefiancebyNarendraModi,Advani’sfrontalpersonalattackonManmohanSingh,SoniaGandhiandRahulGandhihadnotendearedthepartytotheelectorates. As Arun Jaitly correctly said-moderation won over arrogance. Such

personalattackswerenotonlysymbolsofpoliticalbankruptcybutthisalsobetrayedthattheeternal“Rathyatri”hadnothingbettertooffertothecountry.

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Projection of the 82 year old veteran as “Lauh Purush” did not match with hisperformance as the Union Home Minister. Compared to him the low-profile, softspeakingand constructive approachofManmohanSinghgave an impression thatthis one personwas capable of carrying the countrywith him despite stabbingbysomeofhiscoalitionpartners.Infact,thecountrydoesnotrequirea“LauhPurush”;it

requiresahumbleandsilentdeterminedworkerwhocanpushthecountrytowardseconomicdevelopmentandsocial integrationand inclusionofasmuch sectionsofthe people as possible. Advani’s image that he was in favour of exclusion of theminorities fromhis visiondidmoreharmthanconsolidatingHinduvotes. Indiahaswalkedpastthepoliticsofexclusion.TheSanghParivarrefusestounderstandthistruth.TheotherfrivolousissuethatAdvanibroughtupwastheclaimthatifvotedtopowerhisgovernmentwouldretrievelacsofcroresIndianmoneystackedinSwissbanks.Itcreatedsomemediahype.Butithadnoimpactontheelectorate.CongresscraftilythrewbackthemissilebyassertingthatBJPdidpreciouslittletoretrievethemoney

whenitwasinpower.SuchfrivolousissuesbetrayedBJP’sfailuretoprojectthecoreissuesconcerningthecommonpeople.NopoorinIndiaimaginethathewouldgetapart of the fabulousmoneyeven if that was retrieved fromSwissbanks. Like theBoforsgunitalsohasbecomeadeadissue.IndianVoterswantedastablegovernment;thatunderpinningcouldbediscernedbyany keen ground observer. People were tiredwith haughty,maverick, greedy andparochial coalition partnersofVajpayeeandManmohanregimes.TrackrecordsofJayalalitha, Mamata,Chandrababuand Left groups as coalition partnershave notbeenverylaudatoriest.Theseseasonalbirdsflewawayattheslightestpretextsandstalledseveralvitalprogramminganddecisionmakingof thegovernment.Thistimearoundthevoterswantedstabilityandacompactgovernment.Asacoalitionsavvy

party the BJP is less reputed than the Congress. Despite Left’s intransigenceManmohan had pulled up the nuke deal and surfed rather comfortably over thesudden crest of economic collapse initiated by down-slide domino action of USeconomy, followed by European and Japanese economic collapse. That involvedsomesmoothjuggleryandinnovation.It isdoubtfulifBJPhasthatkindofresilienceinsurvivingwhimsicalbehaviorofcoalitionpartnersanditscapabilityofpullingoffamajor international deal in the face of domestic and international obstructions.ManmohanhasprovedconclusivelythatheisabetterswimmerinadversityandhispoliticalbossSoniaGandhiisabetteroarsperson.Thecountrytrustedthatteamplusthe projection of pro-youth image by Rahul and Priyanka. The BJP lacked theseassetsandskillstocompetetheoarsperson-shipofSoniaandswimmingcapabilityof

Manmohan. The country, by and large trusted Mnamohan-Sonia duo and not thesingular image of Advani. In the absence of Vajpayee theBJP failed toproject amoderateface.Finally,Manmohan’smoderationscoredbetter.Congresstookadvantageofnon-governanceandbadgovernanceincertainstatesled by idiosyncratic leaders. It did well inWestBengal, UP, Punjab,MP, Gujarat,Uttaranchal,KeralaandRajasthanetcstatessimplybecausethepeoplehadstartedlosing faith on Mayawati, CPM& partners, Akalis and disastrous performance bycertainBJPledgovernments.CongressscoredwellinAndhraPradeshandHaryanadespite the incumbency factors; both YSR and Huda were rated as acceptableadministratorsdespitecomplaintsofheavycorruptionagainstYSR.

IncontrasttheBJPfailedtoexploitthisparticularaspect;itratherfailedtoprotectitsown homes from poaching by the Congress. In seemingly impregnable Narendra

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Modi’sGujaratCongressmadesubstantivegains.ItisfruitlesstoarguethatMuslimvoted in favour ofCongress.Theydid because theyhavenoconfidenceonModi.EvenHindu votesweredivided.TheBJP,VHPandotherancillariesof theParivarworkedatcrosspurposes.WithallhischarismaandmagicModihadnotsucceededtoconstructingasolidcadrebase.

In fact, BJP has no confirmed and structured cadre base. Congress has someorganizationalstructureeveninremotevillages.ThepartyhasconsiderableholdonGramSabhas,Panchayats,andZilaParishadsandthroughtheYouthCongressandthe NSUI among the youth forces. Devolution of power to the Panchayats hasgenerated friendly vibes for the Congress. BJP’s grassroots organisation isamorphous.ItdependsonthecadresoftheRSS,VHP,BajrangDal,ABVPetcoutfitsand peripheralworkerswho generally nurse Hindutwaasa political ideal.Politicalcadresaredifferentfromideologicalcadres.There are differences between Communist cadres and cadres of other political

parties.Cadresarecommittedworkersatthegrassrootslevelwhoremainloyaltothepartycomesummercomewinter.Congresshasminimum25%ofcommittedcadres,Communists60%andtheBJParound10%.InanelectionmobilizationtheBJPhasto fall back on Sangh Parivar cadres. Modi and other BJP leaders had failed tomobilize100%supportfromtheParivarcadres;atseveralplacestheParivarcadreseven worked for Congress. In several places in Delhi, my personal knowledgeindicate that the BJP boothmanagers had sold their boots and booth clusters toCongresscandidatesbyacceptinghugemoney.ThiswastrueinDelhiandeveninGujarat. Such deviation of Parivar cadre support is not new; it happened in 1980whenIndiraGandhiwassupportedbybulkof theParivarcadres.TheBJPand theSanghParivarhavetositonmoreAtmachintanandAtmamanthantodeterminewhy

thisfiascotookplacein2009!Whythecadresbetrayedthem!There are allegations thatModi suffered because of his strident and unrepentantcommunal attitude.On charges of genocideModi andRajivGandhi stand on thesamepedestal;theformerisaccusedofGujaratriotsandthelaterfor1984anti-Sikhriots.BothModiandRajivhaderredonsamecounts;theydidnotorderkillingoftheminorities,butbothofthem,beingatthehelmsofadministration,failedtorespondspeedily to prevent holocaust. The Sikhs have not pardoned Rajiv even after 25years.HowcanModigetoutofthescarwithinsuchashortperiod?Ifhewantedto,heshouldhavegonefordemonstrativepenanceinrespectoftheriotsufferers,bothMuslimsandHindus.ThislackoflessonsfromhistoryofRajivhasharmedtheBJP

immensely. Another problem that haunted the BJP was continuous infighting in the higherformationsofthecentralparty.Rajnath-ArunJaitlytiffovermanager-politicianMittalhas beenwellpublicized.Itdid nothaveamanager likePramodMahajan.Similarsilent clashes between Advani-Joshi camps, Venkaiah Naidu-Modi camps wererattlingthepartyfromwithin.Lackofinnerpartycoherenceledtogroupfightinganddistribution of tickets to non-deserving candidates and lackluster and disjointedcampaigning. TheBJPmay like to look into the innerconflicts and try torealize ifRajnathistherightleader,ifJoshi’shungerforpowerhasbeensaturatedandifitistime forthe party to throwupyounger leadership from its ownand some from the

politicallyorientedRSSandABVPcadres?Introspectionshouldnotendinshufflingthedustsunderthecarpets.TheyshouldlearnfromCongressthattoattractmillionsof new Youngistan voters they require youth leaders in the front and not sandal

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paste-kumkumsmearedoldhaggardforeheads.Youthisthekeytofutureelectionsandtheyoutharenotinspiredbycommunalslogans.Theywantgoodgovernance.Defeatoftendisorientspoliticalmassesandtheirsupporters.SomeBJPandSanghactivists flooded the cell phonewavesbySMS saying that BJP’s defeat couldbe

attributedtoriggingoftheEVMbyCongressCECnexus.IhadsuggestedonesuchpropagandistthattheyshouldtakeahighleveldelegationtothePresidentorfileapetitionintheSupremeCourt.Itsilencedsomeofthem.Propagandahasaproblem.LikeHitler was eatenupbyGoebbelianpropaganda the BJPmay alsobecome avictim of such self-deception. It is correct that inmanyEuropeancountries and inUSAEVMhascomeundersuspicion.Theyhavediscardedthesystem.InVenezuelaitwas found that in theEVMsupply company thegovernment has28%stakes. IfthereisdoubtaboutEVMsanallpartymeetingcanlookintothematterandgointothe depth if the Congress and CEC have any nexus with the EVM suppliers.However, in Indiaballot voting ismorehazardous thanEVM voting. InBVsystembooths are physically captured by some honourable and prospective honourable

MPs.The BJPhasanother inbuilt disadvantage.AgreenpoliticianVarunGandhi raisedhighstrungcommunalslogansandemergedasaleaderfromanobody.Agitationalpoliticsof the BJP had createdmany frontline politicians likeUma Bharti. Even ashortspanofhistoryhasprovedthatsuchpoliticiansdonotlast.TheBJPwentallthewaytosupportVarun.ThismighthavehelpedVarunandtheBJPina fewseatsinUP.But italienatedMuslim voters from the party.On the otherhandbyreplacingTytlarandSajjanKumar,whenSikhsobjected,SoniaGandhiearnedaccoladeoftheSikhsand sent a vibrantmessage to theminorities in general that Congress wasreadytoatonepastmistakes.

Hopefully theBJPand theParivarwouldlearnfromthisandstopgivingslogansofRam Mandir, Hindutwa and narrow communal approaches, if the party wants toemerge as either a Leftof theCentre or Right of theCentremainstream all-Indiapolitical entity acceptable toall communities.If itwantstoremainaHindupoliticalentity it will suffer worse consequences. BJP cannot afford to break any moremosques,constructtemplesatdisputedplacesandrealizetheimpracticaldreamofHinduRaj.AnyimpartialsurveywouldindicatethatcommonHindussupportstatusquo and are not seriously communal though some of them are concerned withallegedminorityismoftheCongress&alliesandarevaguelyapprehensiveofMuslimresurgence.

TheBJPhasanotherpracticaldisadvantage.ConsideredasaHindiheartlandparty,ithasjuststartedrootingintheSouthandineasternStateslikeAssam.ItsbackdoorentryinBengalprovesthatBengaliHindus,thoughconsiderablyalertedbyMuslimpreponderanceanddemographicthreathavetonotbeensuccessfullyconvertedtocommunalpolitics.IfithastofindafootholdintheStateofitsfounderleader,Dr.S.P.MukherjeetheBJPhastoemergeasgrassrootslevelmainstreampartywhichcanidentifywithmiddleclassBengaliconcernsandemergeasthevoiceoftheHindusinthe districts bordering Bangladesh.The last Electionhas shown thatMamata andCongress exploited Muslim votes better than the CPM. The BJP has almost nilsupportintheruralareas.Sectionsofmiddleclassurbanvotersalonecannotbea

steppingstonetovictory.

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CongresshasanadvantageovertheBJP.BeingaremnantoftheoriginalCongressmovement it has grassroots support almost in every part of India. Only badgovernancebytheCongress,asduringtheEmergencyandscandal-riddenregimeofRajiv,hadwitnessedcompletewashoutoftheCongress.BoldandfairleadershipcanrevitalisethedormantCongresssupportsinanypartofthecountry.In2009election

the moot question was: had Congress succeeded in projecting Sonia, Rahul andPriyankaascapableleaderswhocangivegoodgovernance?It isnoteasytogiveanyverdictjustnow.But,incaseManmohangovernmentcancontinuetogovernwelland improve security environ and revitalise the economy than such a conclusionwouldnotbeoutofplace.BJP’sshortstintingovernmentdoesnotsupportitsclaimofIndiashining.TheBJP,ontheotherhand,barringinChattisgarh,Karnataka,andHimachalandtosomeextentinMadhyaPradeshhasnotbeenabletothrowupaconsolidatedimageof leadershipthatcouldbe trustedwithgoodgovernance.ItspartialUPsuccessisneither forAdvaninor forRajnathSingh.Upper, backwardand lowercasteHindus

lost confidence in BSP and SP. The fall out wasalmost evenly picked up by theCongressandtheBJP.MuslimsinUP,obviouslyvotedmostlyfortheCongress.Infact, in themidst of election campaign some BJP insiders threw up the name ofNarendraModiasthePrimeMinisterialcandidate.ModimayhavesomecredibilityinGujarat, Maharashtra and among committed Hindutwa voters but no one in thecountry is ready toaccept as thePM, not yet, till he proves thatbesidesbeingaHinduhecanupholdconstitutionalrightsofallsectionsofthepeople.RajivGandhihadfailedonthisscore;soalsoNarendraModi.TheBJPhasnotdrawnlessonsfromhistory.Evenatthepeakofcommunaltensionand killings on the eve of partition the Hindu Mahasabha had not succeeded in

drawingvotesfromthemajorityHindus.ItwasapressuregroupintheCongressandremainedapressuregroup.Iftheparty,whosesuccessoristheBJP,couldnotcashonHinduvotesatthepeakofcommunaldividehowcanitnowdreamofsecuring100% Hindu votes? Such a situation can only arise if there is total cultural andreligiouspolarizationinthecountry.Indiaisamultireligious,multicultural,multilingualandmultiethniccountry.Itskaleidoscopicvarietiesareenshrinedin theConstitution.TheBJP,ifitwantstoemergeasagiantoppositiontoCongressandriffraffregionalandcaste-basedpartiesitshouldprojectanimageofacceptabilitytoallsectionsofthepeople.Suchanimageturnoverisperhapsnotpossibleaslongasthepoliticalface of the party remain rooted in the Sangh Parivar. The Parivar, as a socialmovement, may continue to serve its targeted population for betterment of the

community,servingthefringepopulationandfightingagainstcastedivergencesandunifytheHindupolity.TheRSScannomoreirresponsiblyusetheBJPasapoliticalfront.Acompositecountrycannotbegovernedbypartybrandedascommunal.ThatBJPiscommunalisbelievedbymanyHinduseven.TheBJPhastoshedthatstigmaandwhilekeepingHinduwelfareinmind,ithastoadoptapolicyforSarvajanaHitayaCha.Commonwelfareofallthecommonpeopleisthesoulofelectoraldemocracy.SomeofmyHindutawadifriendsmailedmelongarticlessuggestingthattheBJPwasdefeated because they were not sufficiently Hindu and deficiently secular. TheyadvocatedthatstifferHindutwaslogansandactivitieswouldattractwholesaleHinduvotes. TheBJPshould shed the secular image. It is difficult tomake ablind see,

dumbspeakanddeaftoheartofinemusic(nodigatmyespeciallyablefriends,itisasimile).MyHindutwafriendsforgetthatIndiaisapredominantlyHinducountrythathas come to accept secularism as a constitutional scheme of governance and

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essentialingredientofnationhood.Mere13%Muslimscannotposedangerto80%Hindus.The allegationofgrowingMuslim population and subversionof the IndianMuslims,thoughpartiallycorrect,isnotathreat tothefabricsof thenation.Outof,say,160millionMuslimsatbest1millionmayhave turned resurgent.Byitself theassumedfigureisdangerous.EveninTalibanaffectedPakistanthefightingstrength

oftheTalibanisabout30,000.ItiscorrectthatsomeMuslimshavecometonoticeforviolentpro-jihadactivities.However,anydeviantactivitiesbyanysectionoftheMuslimscanbetackledbytheStateunderexistinglaws.EvenifasmallsegmentoftheMuslimshavebeensubvertedthatneednotessentiallyleadtoaconclusionthatIndia requiresa communalHinduparty toestablish pureHindutwaentity. Itmightcreateasituationinthecountrythatexistedin1935androlleddownto1947withindescribablepains.Dowewanttogobackinhistoryandrecreatethescenariothathauntedusinthepast?Obviouslynot.EveryreligionandcultureinIndiaisdistinctandthesehaveaddedtothe varieties of the country.One cannot thrive to theexclusion of the other.Such

exclusivismhadinviteddisasterinthepast.Dowerequirerecreationofthescenario?TheBJPhas to ask itself thesequestionsandanalyse that in a dynamic countrygeriatric leadership has inherent values aswell asdrawbacks. Therehas tobeahealthybalanceofgenerationgaps.TheBJPrequiresgrassrootscadresofitsownnot depending on the Sangh Parivar, should be able to evoke confidence in allsectionsof thepeople,desist fromsupportingmad religiousfrenzyandhatredandprojectanimagethatitcangivegoodgovernance.OneVajpayeedoesnotmakeaparty.ThereshouldbethousandsofVajpayeestoevokeconfidenceinpublicmind.PleasestopYatras,andgetdowntogroundrealities,iftheBJPwantstoemergeasthe mainstream party acceptable to all sections of the people. Construction ofTemplesistheeasiestjob.Constructionofasteadyandbelievablepoliticaledifice

thatcangovern is rather verydifficult. IncaseBJP realize this thanonly IndiacanhaveahealthyTwoPartysystemwithLalulikeriffraffelementsthrowninthefringe.Religiousproclivitiesshould beconfined tosocietal, culturalandmoralrealmsandbanished from political framework by all the communities. Congress and riffraffCongress and riffraffCongress and riffraffCongress and riffraffpartiesshouldalsorethinkiftheiropenpropartiesshouldalsorethinkiftheiropenpropartiesshouldalsorethinkiftheiropenpropartiesshouldalsorethinkiftheiropenpro----MuslimpoliciesarenotMuslimpoliciesarenotMuslimpoliciesarenotMuslimpoliciesarenotaddingtothefearaddingtothefearaddingtothefearaddingtothefearpsychosis of theHindus and are pushing them to resort toNewton’sThirdLaw ofpsychosis of theHindus and arepushing them to resort toNewton’sThirdLaw ofpsychosis of theHindus and are pushing them to resort toNewton’sThirdLaw ofpsychosis of theHindus and arepushing them to resort toNewton’sThirdLaw ofMotionMotionMotionMotion----HindureactiontoMuslimappeasement.HindureactiontoMuslimappeasement.HindureactiontoMuslimappeasement.HindureactiontoMuslimappeasement.Hopefully,SoniaGandhiandthenewManmohangovernmentwouldtakethisaspectseriouslyandgiveapositivemessagethat thehistoricalmistakecommitted byCongress inLucknowsession toagree tocommunal formulae for the country does not propel it to repeat the same while

implementinghighlycontroversialSacharCommitteeReport,whichisworsethantheLucknowformulaedevisedbyMotilalNehru.Sacharneednotdividethecountryoncemoretoalienatethemajorityforpleasingamorphousgrievancesofaminority.Outof80+%HindumajorityinIndiaatleast55%+areactivelyopposedtoanyLucknowpactlikearrangementunderManmohan-Sachardispensation.SoniaandCongress,in the first flush of victory should not push the country back in history. HinduHinduHinduHindususceptibilitycannotbethrownawaytodustbinofcurrenthistoryinthemaking;itissusceptibilitycannotbethrownawaytodustbinofcurrenthistoryinthemaking;itissusceptibilitycannotbethrownawaytodustbinofcurrenthistoryinthemaking;itissusceptibilitycannotbethrownawaytodustbinofcurrenthistoryinthemaking;itispregnantwithseveralcpregnantwithseveralcpregnantwithseveralcpregnantwithseveralcomplicateddynamics,whichhavethepotentialofdisturbingomplicateddynamics,whichhavethepotentialofdisturbingomplicateddynamics,whichhavethepotentialofdisturbingomplicateddynamics,whichhavethepotentialofdisturbingtheseeminglysecularfabricsofthecountry.theseeminglysecularfabricsofthecountry.theseeminglysecularfabricsofthecountry.theseeminglysecularfabricsofthecountry.InadditiontooneortwoAbhinavBharatsuspected incidents hundredsofsuch incidentsmight resurface.On this issue thecountryissittingondrypowderkeg.HopefullyManmohanwouldnotbeblindtothese

potentialitiesandrepeatanother1916