Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Lesson or two

Three cheers to Ms. Mayawati for bridging the social divide and registering an epoch-making victory. The BSP's novel campaigning methods are worth emulation by other political parties.

B.V. Siva Prasad,
Vijayawada

* * *

The teacher-turned-politician has made history. Other parties need to learn a lesson or two from the U.P. results. Ms. Mayawati deserves to be congratulated on putting an end to the coalition era in the State and accomplishing what Big B for the Samajwadi Party, Ram Mandir for the BJP, and Rahul Gandhi for the Congress could not achieve.

Mentor Kanshi Ram's decision to hand over the BSP's mantle to Ms. Mayawati was indeed right.

Narayan B. Iyer,
Mumbai

* * *

There are many lessons for national and regional parties in the verdict. First, they should emulate Ms. Mayawati's strategy of amalgamating the different elements of society; her decision not to indulge in a hate campaign against other castes; and her act of giving adequate representation to all sections while distributing the party ticket. Secondly, parties should refrain from sending on roadshows immature young politicians. Thirdly, they should cooperate with the Election Commission if they want to know the true verdict of the electorate. Finally, competitive offers of freebies do not attract the people any more.

A. Seshan,
Mumbai

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Well done, Election Commission
Raising labour standards
Signs of another kind of line of control
Concerns that go beyond a spellchecker's
A lot of ground to be made in U.P.
The future for Britain's PM-in-waiting
Whistleblowers should not be persecuted
Decisive verdict
Rainbow coalition
Lesson or two

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu