The editorial adds, “Yeddyurappa is the undisputed victor of this battle... The victory is a resounding approval of the people for Advani’s prime ministership. He had extensively campaigned in the state. Other prominent campaigners included Sushma Swaraj, Narendra Modi, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar. Arun Jaitley — as on many other earlier occasions — proved to be a politician with the midas touch. It is also a crowning glory for the party chief Rajnath Singh. This is the fifth state the party has gained under him.”

CPM’s loss

A report discusses the “CPM’s humiliating defeat in Nandigram and in Singur — the centres of mass uprising against the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government’s farmland acquisition policy for industry”. It says, “Bengal’s bloodiest seventh panchayat elections, which claimed at least 24 lives, surprised the CPM as the opposition combine has routed the ruling Left Front in most panchayat samitis and gram panchayats in six districts for the first time in three decades. Four zilla parishads that went to the Opposition, were regarded as strongholds of the CPM during the past 31 years of its uninterrupted regime. The final tally shows that out of 329 panchayat samitis in the state, the opposition won in 131 this time — as compared to 40 in the previous 2003 panchayat polls. Of the total 3,220 gram panchayats, the opposition gained control over 1,463 GPs this time — against only 744 in the 2003 polls. There was a tie in 118 GPs and results were withheld in another 42 GPs.” It concludes: “State Industries Minister Nirupam Sen has asked the officials of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation not to apply the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring farmland for setting up industries. No doubt, the CPM and its party ministers have learnt a good lesson...”

Yatra’s message

Another report talks about the Jagriti Yatra to celebrate 300 years of the Guru Granth Sahib. It quotes RSS leader Sureshrao Joshi as saying that, “Just a glimpse of Sri Guru Granth Sahib redeems one of all sins.” It says Joshi and ‘scores of swayamsevaks and thousands of activists of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat’ welcomed the yatra in Delhi on May 24.

It adds,”The yatra showcases the shastras (weapons) of Sri Guru Gobind Singh and Sri Shaheed Singh along with puratan hast-likhit (handwritten) Sri Guru Granth Sahib. True to its name, the yatra is creating an awakening, imparting the message of God and the welfare of mankind, irrespective of religion, caste or creed”.