Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

A gift for the people

A change in government after 15 long years is really a gift for the people of Bihar. It is hoped that the new government, likely to be headed by JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, will deliver the goods as per the expectations of the people. RJD chief Lalu Prasad should realise that only through good performance can victory be achieved.

Nellai Thirumalairajan,
Chennai

The winds of change have swept through Bihar and the "lantern" (the RJD's election symbol) has blown out. However, the new Government must be careful to ensure that it does not repeat the mistakes committed by its predecessor.

Bhupendra Singh,
New Delhi

The election results are a clear endorsement by the people of the strict and fearless conduct of the polls by the Election Commission. The NDA partners have won across all regions and all castes and communities.

V. Phaneendra,
Hyderabad

Full credit to the Election Commission, K.J. Rao in particular, for a free and fair election. Now, I hope, Bihar will move on the path of development.

Niranjan Kumar Singh,
Gorakhpur, U.P.

The Bihar poll verdict is a defeat of caste politics. An electorate keen on change voted decisively for the NDA.

M.C. Joshi,
Lucknow

The electorate needs to be congratulated for a decisive mandate in favour of the NDA. It also means Mr. Kumar has an opportunity to provide first class governance to Bihar.

Pramod Arikal,
Mumbai

The people of Bihar have done the right thing in voting for Mr. Kumar and his party. Now, it is up to him to fulfil the expectations. No stone should be left unturned to reduce the criminalisation of the State's politics.

Adil Nizam,
Dehra Dun

The election verdict is inspiring for many reasons. Firstly, the electorate displayed pragmatism in voting in a single alliance. A messy situation might have developed had a single alliance been denied a clear mandate. Secondly, the voters removed themselves from the clutches of caste politics and voted for development. Thirdly, the dismal performance of LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan and his allies has proved that it is not easy to deceive the minorities and use their name for personal gain.

Bijay Shankar Patel,
New Delhi

The fall of the RJD is a good signal for Bihar's future. It is the right time for the NDA to turn Bihar into a place of peace and knowledge. However, it will not be easy.

Rajeev Kumar,
Kochi, Kerala

The verdict is a clear indication of the maturing of the Indian voter. He has the capacity to decide when he has to unequivocally reject divisive forces (2004 Parliamentary elections), and when to vote out non-performers (Bihar, November 2005). The fear of communalism was absent in these elections due to the presence of Mr. Kumar whose secular credentials could not be questioned though the BJP was a junior partner.

Kasim Sait,
Chennai

The results have proved the people still have faith in democracy and given a chance to vote without constraints, they will deliver the right verdict.

Manjula Inian,
New Delhi

The NDA's victory is testimony to the fact that the people of Bihar know how to exercise their right. It is also a lesson for the Lalu-Rabri Devi duo: do not take the people for granted.

Aniket Singh,
Ambala, Haryana

It is not the victory of any political party. It is the victory of the people of Bihar, and of the Election Commission. This long-awaited change in Bihar is a welcome one.

Vasantha Pratha,
Secunderabad

The Commission has done a stupendous job. There was not a single report of booth-capturing in any of the four phases of elections. Keep up the good work.

Lohith M. Jajee,
Bangalore

A fitting reply has been given by the people to one and half decades of misrule and lawlessness. Also, the free election this time gives rise to doubts over the fairness of the earlier elections.

Archana Boggavarapu,
Tampa, Florida It is a relief that the secularism preached by the UPA allies has been rejected by the people. Even though the Constitution bars seeking votes on the basis of religion and caste, the opponents of the NDA are reported to have openly said that the NDA candidates were anti-Muslim and anti-Dalit. The people of Bihar, considered backward in terms of literacy, however did not fall for this ploy and voted in favour of the NDA.

V. Anand Rao,
Chennai

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