Reason for hope or for despair.

Results of elections held recently in 5 states were announced yesterday. Politicians, journalists and experts all have their opinions on why people voted the way they did. It would appear to have been a disaster for the Congress, thrashed in UP, Goa and Punjab and only 1 seat ahead of the divided BJP in Uttarakhand. However, we know that parties which appeared to be extinct in one election gained absolute majority in the next because the party in power used the opportunity to enrich itself. Mrs Gandhi is right when she says," I do not think the results will damage the UPA ( union ) government." Every party in the coalition is gaining from ministerial positions in the cabinet, so why will they want to derail the gravy train. Even if the coalition stays safe the same may not be the case within the Congress. Maybe some within the party will start having doubts about the durability of The Family. After all even though every member of The Family campaigned in UP the Congress lost 8 out of 10 seats in Amethi and Rae Bareli which happen to be the strongholds of The Family. Also you cannot create over 10% inflation by massive injection of cash to win the general elections in 2009 and then blame others for the wretched condition of the poor. Nobody will buy this garbage. The BSP retained its core Dalit base but lost the other factions of the " Rainbow coalition " formed by Ms Mayawati because when you concentrate on enhancing Dalit pride by building statues to yourself you end up by offending others. It seems to be a massive win for SP but they should not take this as permission to terrorise the people with violence as they did the last time they were in power. There were riots yesterday in Firozabad, Sambhal and Jhansi, where journalists had their cameras smashed and were threatened with violence, when the SP candidate lost. Unless there is security there cannot be any development, as Bihar as so clearly shown. As for the BJP, it just flatters to deceive. Claiming to be a party for clean government it welcomed Khushwaha who was sacked by Ms Mayawati for corruption. Uttarakhand is a lawless state virtually controlled by the land mafia. In 2009 they financed a Congress victory in all 5 parliamentary seats in the state. Panicked the BJP removed Gen Khanduri from Chief Minister's position and brought in Mr Nishank. Corruption boomed and sensing a wipe out the BJP brought Gen Khanduri back but, although he brought the party back from the brink, he could not win. Worse, the criminals within his own party worked against him to make sure he lost his seat. The BJP should get rid of these criminal traitors by withdrawing the whip from them and precipitating by-elections in these constituencies. Even if BJP candidates lose it will send a strong signal to the people that it is determined to be clean and to future traitors that criminals are not welcome. Sadly, there will be vast quantities of hot air but no one will learn. The sit will continue to stink.