State Election Results 2013 - the run up to Lok Sabha Elections in 2014

08-Dec-2013 - A big day in the history of Indian politics.

5 states had gone to polls during November 2013 and first week of December 2013 in the country and today, results were announced for 4 of these state elections - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. The counting and results for Mizoram the 5th state is expected tomorrow.

The take aways from these are...

• BJP has emerged as the clear winner of the polls - It is going ahead to form government in 3 of these states. 
• In Delhi, BJP is the largest party in the assembly but lacks the clear majority.
• Congress has become the biggest loser. 
• It has been reduced to a very small party in states where it was in power i.e. in Delhi and in Rajasthan.
• Congress has won only 8 seats in the 70 seater Delhi Assembly.
• Congress has won only 21 seats in the 200 seater Rajasthan Assembly.
• In Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, things were not that bad for the Congress. May be the incumbency factor helped the party a little in these two states. 
• In fact, there were occasions during the day as the results were being announced, that the Congress Party might actually form the government in Chhattisgarh. 

The day's biggest surprise was the performance of the Aam Admi Party (AAP). I am sure not many had anticipated the kind of success AAP has managed to achieve.

After today, AAP has been established as a formidable which no one will take lightly anymore.

Congress is the oldest political party of the country and it really needs to get its act together, the national elections are round the corner.

Peepli Live and Central India, especially Chhattisgarh

Omkar Das Manikpuri

Peepli [Live] the latest movie - a Aamir Khan Production - has excited the folks connected with theatre in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The main reason for this is that Director Anusha Rizvi has cast almost the entire team from Habib Tanveer's Naya Theatre in the movie.

The folk Gond song "Chola Mati Ke Ram" sung by Nagin Tanveer, the daughter of Habib Tanveer is working magic giving a big boost to the local folk talent. The lead character Natha has been played by Omkar Das Manikpuri (Natha) who hails from Chhattisgarh.

The fact that the film has the label of Mr. Perfectionist - Aamir Khan as producer indicates that the film will have good entertainment along with a social message. Coupled with the local - Chhattisgarh / Madhya Pradesh - touch the film is being eagerly awaited by audiences here.