The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Verdict 2004

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Wednesday, May 19, 2004

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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Verdict 2004

Sir, — I am happy to belong to a country where radical political change takes place without an upheaval. The mammoth task of conducting elections in a country of over one billion people is worthy of praise. We saw officials willingly travel on camel and elephant back, cross rivers and trek mountains. We also saw a 108-year-old woman come to the polling station. And above all, we saw a President who urged his countrymen to vote.

J.A.M. Abdul Kader,
Kaaraikudi, T.N.

Sir, — The results of Elections 2004 show that Indian voters are carried away by local issues, rather than taking the stability factor seriously. It was practically a revolt by "off-line" Indians against the "online" urban rich. What is agonising is that a viable, strong, alternative, all-India secular, democratic, non-communist two-party system has not emerged. This is a must for a strong Centre.

C.A.C. Murugappan
Kothamangalam, T.N.

Sir, — The verdict sprang several surprises. The `India shining' campaign ended in bluster; Sonia Gandhi's patience and gracious silence in the face of personalised attacks paid her and the Congress rich dividends. Leaders such as Narendra Modi, Pravin Togadia and Bal Thackeray contributed their `might' to the downfall of the NDA.

R. Gopalan,
Chennai

Sir, — The BJP leaders raised a hue and cry against Ms. Gandhi becoming Prime Minister saying the Congress did not project her as its prime ministerial candidate. Why then did the BJP leaders harp on the foreign origin issue? Obviously because they were afraid Ms. Gandhi would be the Prime Minister if the Congress was elected to power.

V.K. Krishnaswamy,
Vellore, T.N.

Sir, — This is in response to the comment that Indian voters are "immature." India's electorate has demonstrated that it is far more politically aware than the people of most nations. After the Emergency, Indira Gandhi was roundly defeated. The recent NDA loss is almost a re-run of that script.

Even poor, illiterate people have discovered the power of their vote. If the majority wants a Left-leaning Government, surely there are reasons. Anyone who trusts democracy, rather than fascism, will accept the verdict without carping.

George Kurian,
Vellore, T.N.

Sir, — The Congress has been endlessly ridiculed for its dependence on the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. But that has paid off not only in reviving the party's fortunes but also in halting the seemingly inexorable march of the Right.

Ms. Gandhi herself deserves a large measure of credit for countering the propaganda about her foreign origin by her exemplary adaptation to Indian culture and fierce commitment to the family's political legacy.

Tirumalai Raman,
Chennai

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