Not much excitement in Indian election

Apr 27, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,

As I have found out from my presence in India, voters, as in Guyana, are disillusioned with their government and their political representatives. There is not much excitement in India’s current general elections.

As took place in Guyana in 2006, voter turnout has been poor with people registering their disapproval of the politics by not voting. In fact, the ballot has a choice of “none of the above” and it seems to be doing quite well. Several voters told me they will opt for that choice when they go to the polling booths.

The second phase of voting was completed on Thursday for 140 seats to the national parliament with a voter turnout of 55% with some constituencies seeing a turnout rate of only 45%. The heat has been oppressive with the mercury hitting 45 degrees and that could have reduced voter turnout. The first phase for 124 seats saw a turnout of about 60%. The third phase of voting is next Thursday. Voting concludes on May 13 with counting of the ballots and announcement of results on May 16.

Aside from isolated incidents of violence from insurrectionists, voting was by and large peaceful.

There are still no signs on

which party is ahead after the two phases of voting. My guess is the two major parties, the ruling Congress and opposition BJP, are neck and neck as are their alliances, the governing UPA and the opposition NDA. The country is heading for a hung parliament.

The Congress is confident of retaining power while the BJP is confident of returning to power after a break of five years. Political analysts, media persons, and bureaucrats told me Congress will retain office. Polls also suggest Congress has the edge. Voters I spoke with, contradict findings of polls.

They say they have had enough of Congress and want change. I am inclined to say there will be change in spite of the views and opinions of polls and analysts. But there is still three weeks remaining in the voting process and opinion can still change.

It does not appear to me that any party or alliance will win a majority and will need close to 100 additional seats to form a government. The Congress spokesperson told me it is projecting 180 seats and its allies will garner another 100 to give it the government.

This is wishful thinking; it is not going to happen. It appears to me that the BJP is edging out the Congress or neck and neck and the same holds true of the opposition NDA over the governing UPA. The BJP is projected to get about 150 seats and its allies another 45 seats to give it about 195 seats. It can pick up another 90-100 seats from regional and caste-based parties to cross the required 273 seats to form a government.

Vishnu Bisram

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