Reports from the states point to a major common national denominator in this campaign, a strong, argumentative and aspirational vote, which now expects better delivery and attention. Even in UP and Bihar, considered the caste cauldron, voters are complementing caste and kinship bonds with abilities and perceptions about how parties maintain social cohesion and could deliver what they now demand as their due. 

This is also perhaps the first election where some parties are in the fray as a Third Front, the first time that a “Front” has been forcefully projected before the polls. Even in 1996 (which eventually led to the formation of the United Front), it was the “NF” and “LF”, quite distinct entities, which went into the polls — never a “Front” beforehand. The results of this posturing, (hope proponents of the Front), would strengthen their hands. But it is possible that the resultant vector could result in strengthening the two national parties as several voters fear the worst, with “instability” at a time of such sub-

continental volatility as now.

Meanwhile, the worldwide recession has also led to the BJP deftly trying to claim that “the BJP understands the economy better than the Congress” (Yashwant Sinha said as much on Monday.). A race is on between the two big parties to arrogate to themselves more talent in coping with the economic crisis. There is no new worldview they offer; but both seem to understand that it is very much a factor in political choice, especially in areas hit by severe job losses due to the downturn in exports. (The two phases to come include western UP and Tamil Nadu — both big export hubs.)

... contd.