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Triumph of the moderate

The BJP’s tally in the Lok Sabha elections is below expectations. We had entered the 14th Lok Sabha with 138 MPs and we hoped to win 160 seats this time — an increase of 22 seats. Ironically, our tally was exactly 22 down to 116 seats. A thorough analysis of the 2009 verdict will take time but ....Read more

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Arun Jaitley should be elected party presidentBy: Anil | Thursday , 18 Jun '09 20:23:53 PM Reply | Forward India needs leaders like him who can think and can also talk in more than one languages preferably.

BJP should de-centralizeBy: kiransan | Friday , 5 Jun '09 13:10:52 PM Reply | Forward Politics and governance are getting increasingly decentralized. State Chief Ministers and performance of their govts. are significantly deciding the success of parties in state as well as lok sabha elections. BJP can adopt decentralization policy, and empower CMs or state level senior leaders to chalk out their own strategy, which will help them within the state. This will help them formulate strategies which are closer to what people want, and the sum-total of the state wins will help them overall at the Centre. The examples are MP, Gujarat and KArnataka where this has worked. Similarly for Congress this has worked in AP, KArnataka and Delhi.This will also help BJP to move away from RSS and communal politics. Chauhan, Modi, RAman Singh are popular because of their performance in the states, not due to RSS communal agenda. But reality is BJP does not WANT to change and wants to live in denial and self-pity. Even Sri Ram cant help such a party :-)

Moderation is the soul witBy: Rahul Ajith | Thursday , 4 Jun '09 13:17:06 PM Reply | Forward Here are my reasons on why the BJP lost1) Advani is no Vajpayee. BJP needs to find a moderate face for their next leader2) Lesser youth participation3) People(esp youth) were completely disenchanted by incidence like Varun Gandhi.4) Lack of Allies. As Mr. Jaitley rightly mentioned, people wanted a stable government. The BJP, without allies and being considered untouchable by many would find it very difficult to form a stable government.5) Division of the marathi votes.6)Repeated attacks on the PM. Many people, including BJP fans may not like Dr.Manmohan Singh in the PM's Chair. But, once he is elected,he is respected. The post of PM is considered a one of dignity and honor. Attacking such a post is viewed by many voters as a national insult.It is important for the BJP to have nothing more than a sister relation with RSS. The RSS cannot dictate terms to BJP simply because they have no accountability.Hope the BJP emerges strong in the next election !

Triumph of the moderateBy: N.V.SANKARAN | Friday , 29 May '09 10:41:03 AM Reply | Forward The national average of voting in this election was just over 50%. While the minority, driven by the hate BJP propaganda unleashed by the secular parties and media, voted in very large numbers, majority of those who did not vote were the Hindus. The supporters of BJP were disillusioned and confused by the party's indecisiveness as whether it should follow a Hindutwa ideology or should follow the pseudo-secular ideology of the congress and other parties. In Kerala, the Congress got so many seats not because of a positive support, but it was the negative voting against the LDF government which helped them. Even the supporters new that the BJP did not stand a chance in Kerala and preferred to vote for the lesser evil of UDF.

moderates have to leave bjpBy: charan gill | Thursday , 28 May '09 9:49:56 AM Reply | Forward I think BJP has no chance as they are averse to any change for the better.Demoralized and caught in multi personality syndrome BJP can not compete the congress gaining momentum whose leadership has harnessed the energy generated by our liberation struggle.m Moreover,they have achieved the cohesiveness at the top which is most valuable element for the future of a party.On the other hand RSS has decided to keep BJP bound to the same Hindu Raj agenda.Rather they are suggesting freedom from any moderation they have adopted as coalition compulsions.They have decided to follow right extreme.Moderates have to leave BJP.

Triumph of the moderateBy: kamath | Thursday , 28 May '09 0:09:51 AM Reply | Forward Moderate or Hardline in the end the BJP lost. With no allies in states like AP and Orissa this was bound to happen. The fact that nothing was learnt from the 2004 results says it all about which party is Buddi and which is Guddi. Does anyone remember the name of the BJP in charge in UP . Certainly I do not know. L.K Advani may be star attraction but when people in sates vote they like to see a local face and decide. See Karnatakas Yediyurrappa or MP's Shivraj Singh. The party is in shambles in Rajasthan thanks to another PM in waiting Bhairon Singh. Also from Rajashtan was a FM in waiting Jaswant singh and the list of oldies continue.High time the party introspects and bring in younger generation leaders aka Rudy, Sushma Swaraj, even Uma Bharati. Time Rajnath and his elk are shown the boot.If shock treatment is not given now I am afraid the voter will give the BJP a greater and permanent shock in 2014.

Can BJP cross the 100 seats in 2014 parliament elections?By: Naveen Bhartiya | Wednesday , 27 May '09 17:36:01 PM Reply | Forward Respected Jaitley Ji,Pranam....Every one knows that BJP is a party with difference...It was because of the democracy in the internal functioning of the BJP. Do democracy still exist?It used to be party for the masses and there was not any dearth of mass leader. Party is now full of sons and wife of established leader. some of the BJP national vice president did not fetch more than 1 lakh votes in their consistuency. Internal fighting, fractionism and speaking through media are well known feature of BJP. now there will be bopolar in polity and it seems BJP is ready to seat in opposition in 2014 election and after....Can BJP cross the 100 seats in 2014 parliament elections?RegardsNaveen Bhartiya

Crisp and clearBy: Satyen Mehta | Wednesday , 27 May '09 16:45:05 PM Reply | Forward Mr. Arun Jaitley has, as usual, written a very crisp and clear initial reaction to the reasons behind the BJPs' loss and Congress' ascent. I am sure BJP will delve deeper into why things went as wrong as they did. It takes tenacity and statesmanship quality to reflect so frankly on the electoral setback. Mr. Jaitley possesses both and much more. We the people ned Mr. Jaitley and others like him to galvanise the BJP into action from now with their ultimate goal of 2014. People like Mr. Jaitley, Mr. Arun Shourie, Mr. Narendra Modi must strategise from now on and ensure the cadres are encouraged to serve the people in good times and bad, in sunshine and storms with guidance from Mr. L. K. Advani and others. I am confident another 5 years of hard work will yield positive results for the BJP in 2014. Thank You Mr. Jaitley...we look forward to you guiding the BJP with your clear vision. And to the Indian Express...let us have Mr. Jaitley as a regular columnist.

Sober assessmentBy: vijaya | Wednesday , 27 May '09 16:20:01 PM Reply | Forward At first glance this looks as if the BJP will morph into a conservative clone of the Congress, albeit with more ethical standards and a determination to serve the nation's interests.That might not be such a bad idea since the nation is facing many internal and external challenges and the voter clearly wants stability and good governance.While regional interests will still find expression, that should be through the medium of incorrupt leaders, not criminals and opportunists.Lastly, the emergence of a biparty system has meant that the disruptive and anti national Left has been defeated.Congratulations to the BJP for putting up such a good fight, despite great odds, most importantly a negative press !Good luck for the coming year(s) and Mr. Jaitley do consider seriously the post of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

Plan for 2014By: Prakash Kanungo | Wednesday , 27 May '09 13:55:37 PM Reply | Forward Time and Tide waits for no one...I am deeply convinced that all opposition barring "left" awarded 2009 to Congress. Left should be left alone...their game is up....Indian voters next time around will "Sink" them further till they reach Peking....as it is they are anti nationals since 1936.Formulate "Corporatized" Agricultural policy option with human face and provide Narendra Modi ways of development for future India...young people are looking for "jobs" and not silly stupid issues of no relevance....and learn to "WALK ALONE"...if others join in, fine.!!!if not let these undesirables remain out....You two some( Modi and your self) should forge development based plans and see that 2014 is time to wash out "Congress Culture" from India.Good luck...and happy landing in 2014....

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