Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Mumbai civic polls

This refers to the well-written editorial "Saffron rides again" (Feb. 3). The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections once again highlighted the sway of the Shiv Sena and the BJP over the electorate.

Ironically, in India's highly industrial and urbanised capital, the Hindutva campaign had more effect on the voters than the secular campaign of national parties projecting the civic issues affecting the people.

As the editorial rightly points out, "the politics of Mumbai is still determined by charismatic demagoguery and ethnic loyalties."

S. Janakiraman,
Coimbatore

* * *

The adage `united we stand, divided we fall' has come true. By not putting up a united front, the Congress and the NCP have handed over the civic body to the Shiv Sena-BJP combine. Despite dissension in its ranks, the Sena put up an impressive performance thanks to its charismatic leader Bal Thackeray who campaigned widely. It is also likely that the ruling combine has lost touch with the ground reality.

The elections are a wake-up call for the Congress and the NCP. They have to bury their ego and work together if they hope to return to power in the State in 2009.

D.B.N. Murthy,
Bangalore

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