The same trend reflects in the popular attitudes to the newly-elected President and the trust rating of some of the top politicians. If the people, rather than their representatives, could choose the President directly, the result may not have been very different. As in the real election Pratibha Patil would have gained a little from “cross voting” by NDA supporters. Despite all the controversies during the campaign, the urban Indians are happy to keep an open mind about the new President. The ratings of the top leaders from the Congress and the BJP have not undergone any dramatic changes to suggest a big political shift.

The long-term political attitudes towards the system have remained fairly stable in India and the urban respondents in this survey are no exception to this rule. The level of support for democracy is fairly high by global standards. A high degree of trust in some of the key institutions like government, courts, Election Commission and distrust in political parties and police revealed in this survey reiterates the well-known pattern of citizens’ attitudes in Indian democracy. This only reinforces the contrast with the findings from Pakistan.

The storyline of Mumbai cinema has to have a happy end, the contrast must finally dissolve itself into a deeper unity. A close reading of the data from Pakistan opens that possibility: it shows a public opinion profile very conducive to a successful transition to democracy. Will the Pakistani political elite make use of this opportunity and usher in a much-awaited change? As in reel life, we live in suspense.

... contd.