Why 'secular' Narendra Modi bashers must be ignored

[SR 71 Blackbird]

How many of you Guys think that Namo is better than MMS.

 

[Skull and Bones]

How many of you Guys think that Namo is better than MMS.

Almost all of us.

 

[Bang Galore]

Bang Galore you have a point, but its based on the last electoral. I am looking at things today and looking forward to the next. Nothing ventured nothing gained. If the BJP goes ahead again by toeing the "safe" secular inclusive line and keeping Modi just back of full frontal, they will be also-rans in the coalition cauldron once again. But if they play it smart, and cash in on the current loss of popular support for the center and target a no-nonsense style of government that has a strong track-record of economic revival and development with zero tolerance for corruption (based on the impressive Gujarat model) then they have a chance. Otherwise it is the same old wine in an even older bottle that no one wanted the last time around. Sure it will alienate some people. But the stronger chance (and chance it is) will be of providing a viable and attractive anti-incumbent change alternative. Hope you see my point.

Yeah I see your point but you are also making the common mistake of seeing a General election as something that stands on its own. It actually doesn't work that way. Since we don't have a Presidential form of government, people only vote for parties and this is based on their current experience with them. A general election then becomes a series of state elections aggregated to give a larger picture. Anti incumbency is not just the problem of the National government; there are state wise anti incumbency factors that also need to be considered. The BJP is presently in power in a few states & while MP & Chattisgarh are among the better run states, you must remember that the government there is running a second term and will face increasing levels of anti-incumbency feeling. Karnataka is a disaster for the BJP & when you consider that the BJP did extremely well in the last elections here, things are only looking down thanks to Mr.Yeddiyurappa. The BJP has no base in any of the other three Southern states and would have to look at allies who will extract a heavy pound of flesh ( TDP,AIADMK). Poorly placed in Orissa ( because of the break up of the BJP - BJD alliance), hopeless in Bengal & the NE except for small pockets in Assam but the real killer will be U.P. If the BJP has to do business with Mayawati, you can kiss any ideas of good governance goodbye. BJP can do better in only a couple of places - Maharashtra & maybe Rajasthan ( they already did very well in Bihar; will struggle to replicate that performance). So where are the extra seats going to come from? The BJP will struggle to get 160-180 seats in the most optimistic outcome & will be at the mercy of mercurial allies. Do you really think that would result in better governance? Add to that the BJP's cupboard is pretty bare for competent ministers & the less said of its prospective allies, the better. Which is actually why I said that people are going to miss Manmohan Singh's strong governance if this lot somehow managed to come to power.

 

[tallboy123]

I don't care for this secularism...
I want bjp in the centre...
no more congress please
congress ruled india=weak india,weak towards the separatists..
ki l l congress guys..

 

[angeldust]

Yeah I see your point but you are also making the common mistake of seeing a General election as something that stands on its own. It actually doesn't work that way. Since we don't have a Presidential form of government, people only vote for parties and this is based on their current experience with them. A general election then becomes a series of state elections aggregated to give a larger picture. Anti incumbency is not just the problem of the National government; there are state wise anti incumbency factors that also need to be considered. The BJP is presently in power in a few states & while MP & Chattisgarh are among the better run states, you must remember that the government there is running a second term and will face increasing levels of anti-incumbency feeling. Karnataka is a disaster for the BJP & when you consider that the BJP did extremely well in the last elections here, things are only looking down thanks to Mr.Yeddiyurappa. The BJP has no base in any of the other three Southern states and would have to look at allies who will extract a heavy pound of flesh ( TDP,AIADMK). Poorly placed in Orissa ( because of the break up of the BJP - BJD alliance), hopeless in Bengal & the NE except for small pockets in Assam but the real killer will be U.P. If the BJP has to do business with Mayawati, you can kiss any ideas of good governance goodbye. BJP can do better in only a couple of places - Maharashtra & maybe Rajasthan ( they already did very well in Bihar; will struggle to replicate that performance). So where are the extra seats going to come from? The BJP will struggle to get 160-180 seats in the most optimistic outcome & will be at the mercy of mercurial allies. Do you really think that would result in better governance? Add to that the BJP's cupboard is pretty bare for competent ministers & the less said of its prospective allies, the better. Which is actually why I said that people are going to miss Manmohan Singh's strong governance if this lot somehow managed to come to power.

All valid points. But none take away from the fact that an increasingly enlightened and savvy (read: cynical) electorate across states goes into a general election voting for a party at the center looking at broader national interests versus local/regional ones. Which is where a nation-wide sentiment on central issues (economy, security) builds up steam from one election year to another, cutting across state politics. The electorate does make the distinction Bang Galore, and there lies the necessity for the BJP to portray a national alternative. In terms of vision and policy. In terms of top leadership. In terms of key portfolios.

All said and done, everything else being equal (in that we do not expect nor realistically envision a marked deviation from key economic and security policies and road-maps), the differentiators will be public perception of the likely personality at the helm for the next 5 years and comfort/congruence levels to such at a personal level as one votes today, hoping for a positive impact on one's own and immediate circle's day to lives and standard of living and prosperity and safety for the next 5 years. I agree with what you say about the chance of looking back on the current Congress governance, wistfully, were the BJP to come back into power, and things not improve significantly. But that is why we have elections every 5 years don't we?

Bottom line is that Manmohan Singh got a rare (in coalition era terms) strong mandate for this term. And his government has squandered it and most of us are pretty disillusioned by the whole thing. Give us at least an equally good/bad alternative, and the nation will choose to take it come the next hustings. I am sure about it, and if both of us are still here come that time, we could probably indulge in our private "told you so-s" one way or the other.

 

[Prometheus]

Almost all of us.

Joke of the decade.............
MMS is the best we can get.
As the matter of fact he is the best .
UR NAMO NEEDS ANOTHER 7 lives to equal deeds of MMS

 

[Prometheus]

How many of you Guys think that Namo is better than MMS.

Lol, you are asking this question on internet.

 

[metro]

Anybody other than congress and left would do for me.

 

[metro]

Joke of the decade.............
MMS is the best we can get.
As the matter of fact he is the best .
UR NAMO NEEDS ANOTHER 7 lives to equal deeds of MMS

Oh please... MMS is a coward impotent man.
Dont say he is the best we can get.
Its a shame that a land of warriors is being ruled by such a pu$$y now.

 

[metro]

How many of you Guys think that Namo is better than MMS.

100 times better.

 

[xTra]

Untill and unless any single party comes to power with absolute majority, thing will be like this only.

If Narendra Modi becomes PM with the help of coaliation parties, he won't be much stronger then MMS.

 

[Prometheus]

Oh please... MMS is a coward impotent man.
Dont say he is the best we can get.
Its a shame that a land of warriors is being ruled by such a pu$$y now.

I like that pu$$y ...................he was the only reason people were voting for congress.
I a person is coward only because he does his work properly and expects his colleges to do the same........i am glad we have a coward PM
Still much better than any GODESS indira type

 

[xTra]

How many of you Guys think that Namo is better than MMS.

Well it will be decided by people.

 

[Prometheus]

100 times better.

Agreed MMS IS 100 times better

 

[Ammyy]

Agreed MMS IS 100 times better

MMS is better than NaMo but what about a puppet PM (MMS) ????