BJP voted out of power in Karnataka Polls

I have strongly believed that performance of political parties matters.

This has been proven once again in the Karnataka Polls. BJP had demonstrated a lot of in-fighting and misrule in the State. Corruption, Illegal Mining, Peer Fighting - the party was highlighted in the media for all the wrong reasons.

So, it is quite natural that the people demonstrate their anger where they can and the results have spoken today.

Another election where this performance theory was proven right is the Gujarat Polls. The voters voted Narendra Modi back to power in response to all the positive environment that was created in response to his development based administration.

Once again a demonstration that performance matters.

Next - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi are in queue. These states are supposed to go to polls before 2013 ends.

Here is how I perceive the political scenario.

Delhi Polls

I believe that in Delhi, the Congress government has been in the news more for the wrong reasons than the right.

Sheila Dixit must combat the gloomy corruption-ridden perception of the Congress-led UPA government in the Center and the insensitive image of the government in the state.

The biggest factor being the way issue of security of women has been handled. To top it, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been constantly nagging it for its insensitive price rise of electricity and water.

Sheila Dixit will be leading the Congress government to polls for the 4th time. It remains to be seen whether she stills retains public trust.

Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Shivraj Singh Chauhan has not been much in the news for the wrong reasons.

I feel that even he will be leading his party to polls on a development-based campaign. If selected by his party, he will be leading his party in the state elections for the 2nd time.

Chhattisgarh

Dr. Raman Singh to has managed to keep his team of politicians away from the negative media. He has a development model to display.

• The creation of new districts. 
• Naya Raipur.
• Free Pilgrimage.
• Many-fold increase in the use of Information Technology.

would be his main strengths and achievements. Besides, this most of his development work can be seen only in Raipur the state capital.

Coalgate Independent Investigation - the Role of CBI and of the Government

The recent fiasco of the UPA regime came to the fore when reports of Government interference in the preparation of the Status Report by CBI on Coal Mine scam were published in the media.

The anti-corruption movement by Anna Hazare was started on the very premise that there should be an independent investigation agency devoid of any government interference. An investigating agency that would be free to investigate and prosecute anyone irrespective of position and status.

The recent developments,

• starting with the revelation of the fact that the Coalgate investigation report was shared with the law minister, 
• the accusing letter from Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval addressed to Attorney General GE Vahanvati 
• followed by Supreme Court's observations that the CBI need not take instructions from political masters, 

once again highlight the need for an independent investigating agency.

The Government of India had already given clear indications that it was not going to do anything to take action against the corrupt. The way action was taken against campaigners like Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdeo are glaring examples.

In fact, it has done all in its power to protect the high-profile accused. It is very disappointing.

We can only hope things improve.

2012 - Ends on a Bad Note

Today, 29-Dec-2012, the 23 year old rape victim, whose ordeal shook the nation, passed away in Singapore. She died in the wee hours due multiple organ failure at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

The year 2012 has ended on a bad note with the death of this young lady. May her soul rest in peace.


The death of the brave girl who "wanted to live" marks the end of her ordeal that began on the night of 16-Dec-2012 when she was returning from a movie with her friend.

The girl had suffered grave injuries at the hands of the criminals and had been critical since she was brought to the hospital. Doctors had to removed her intestine.


The nation was shaken by the incident. For the first time in the nation's history people were out on the street protesting against the government inaction and demand stringent laws for those who commit crimes against women.

2012 - Who grew in Indian Politics?

2012 has been a busy year for Indian Politics.

Swami Ramdev, Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal are some of the new names that have emerged on the political front during the course of 2012. Each of these three got prominence due the government's apparent inaction in tackling corruption and black money.

Swami Ramdev and Anna Hazare got great public support for their campaign against black money and corruption. But, the ruling Congress-led coalition managed to suppress their movements. The government managed to successfully put Swami Ramdev on the back foot, while Anna Hazare's campaign lost its sheen as Anna was apparently not able to recover fully from the effects of his hunger fast.

Arvind Kejriwal once a member of Team Anna has not yet given up. He is still going strong. He and his colleagues have launched a political party - Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). They are still gunning for a strong Lokpal bill. and are even willing to contest in the next elections, if necessary.

Other names that stole the limelight and grew in stature during 2012 are Narendra Modi, Akhilesh Yadav.

In Narendra Modi become the Chief Minister of Gujarat for the fourth time. In December he chalked his hat-trick - his third consecutive victory in the Gujarat Assembly polls.It was a big year for Narendra Modi himself when he was praised for the development work that he has done in the state during his tenure.

Narendra Modi's stature grew so much that he has almost become BJP's next Prime Ministerial Candidate for the next General Elections. The General Elections are originally due in 2014, but many political experts have publicly predicted that the nation could go to polls in 2013 itself.

In 2012, Akhilesh Yadav became the youngest Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh when his party ousted Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party. A lot was promised during the elections and a lot is expected from this young Chief Minister.

Violence is not and can never be part of any solution

Violence is not and can never be even a small part of the solution to any problem.

No matter how much disagreement you have with anybody - violence can never be part of the solution, at best it will only compound the problem. No matter who instigates is, no matter who strikes first.

This is what has happened at India Gate in New Delhi. So many protestors were injured, one police constable even lost his life.

Please no more!

It is my request to the representatives of the people that form the governments, to be a little more sensitive to the sentiments of the crowd. No person is on the streets for the fun of it. The people have taken the streets in such large numbers because they feel that the government is not delivering.

Reports of rape,  crimes against women and other crimes against humanity have become common-place and still there are so few arrests and even fewer convictions. It is quite natural for the people feel insecure. I think it is right for the people to have come out in large numbers to ask the representatives, they have elected, to do something to create a secure and save environment.

Where else can they go?

The string of events that lead to the lathi-charge were very misfortunate. It has only increased the gap between the people and the government.

Please no more!

Life can be pleasant and peaceful for all only if this gap reduces. I request the leaders to handle the issue, that has touched so many hearts, a little more sensitively.

What I think about Narendra Modi?

Narendra Modi has led BJP's victory in the Gujarat Assembly Elections for the third time. This time he has made it to the house with 115 seats (in 2012) as compared to 117 seats (in 2007).

Judging by the media reports it is certain that he is the most eligible prime-ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janta Party for the forthcoming 2014 general election.

So it is time Indians start taking serious note of him. Below is what I think about him. It may or may not be right, this is my impression of Narendra Modi.

Besides many things, I feel that Narendra Modi is a man with strong likes and dislikes and he shown that he has the guts to stand by what he thinks he wants to do and not do.

According to me, the biggest positive for Narendra Modi's election campaign was that it was above caste and religion. I mean he did not comment for or against any caste or religion. His opponents - that is the Congress Party and others did rake up caste and religion issues during the campaign - but I did not see him speaking on this matter.

The impression that the people have about his religious inclinations and behavior towards the minorities has been created by the media and by his opposition. I think that he himself has rarely made any comment on this matter.

He did not spend much time criticizing his opponents. He simply focused on development.

It is clear that he realizes the significance of elections and voters. During this tenure he made regular public appearances which were obviously political in nature. The frequency of such appearances obviously increased this year (2012) as the elections drew closer.

Focus back on UPA Governemnt after WalMart declaration

Even as things seemed to be improving for the ruling UPA government, WalMart's statement in the US has once again put the UPA government in a corner.

WalMart - the company is clearly seen to be the biggest beneficiary of the recent FDI decision of the Congress led UPA Goverment. WalMart has gone and said before the US Senate that it has spent around Rs. 700 crores in lobbying for the opening of the retail sector in Indian.

This has given the opposition in particular and Indian public in general an opportunity to once again raise eyebrows.

The UPA government has faced a lot of criticism over the last few months over the way it has handled its political allies and the way it has been on the back foot on the issue of corruption. Last month the government suddenly showed some bone and announced a couple of decisions which were believed to be unpopular with most political parties and the win in both the houses of the Parliament must have been a big morale booster for the Congress led UPA government.

But, now let us see how the statement by WalMart - the biggest apparent winner of the FDI decision - impacts the Indian government.