Indian Elections

[Derec]

There was a thread about this on the other side.

Basically, "world's largest democracy" has been voting in their parliamentary elections for the last month and a half and the voting has concluded today. Since India has parliamentary system, whoever can either win 272 out 543 (i.e. a majority) seats in the "Lok Sabha" (parliament) or combine that many seats in a coalition forms the government. Right now, the ruling party is Congress and its UPA alliance but exit polls indicate that BJP is winning.
India election: Exit polls see Modi win as vote ends
Although the article indicates to take Indian exit polls with a grain of sand the results are so far apart (virtual reversal from the last elections) that I do not think they will be substantially changed by the time official results are announced in Friday.
The Congress lead candidate is Rahul Gandhi, 44, part of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty whose mother is Italian.
The BJP candidate is Narendra Modi, 63. He is often accused as being divisive and might have been involved in the Muslim-Hindu violence of a decade ago.
BJP is generally more conservative and religious while Congress has for a long time advocated strong state control of economy, but have relaxed that stance in the last two decades under initiative of Manmohan Singh.

 

[Derec]

What? Nobody cares? Not even boneyard bill who believes India is one the upcoming three dominant powers together with Russia and China?

Anyway, the results are coming in and it looks like BJP will secure an absolute majority, meaning Narendra Modi will be able to govern without coalition partners It also looks like Congress has had an abysmal result, which will probably also mean the end of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Modi campaigned on economy, making the country friendlier toward investment and business, fighting corruption and improving infrastructure. On the other hand, he downplayed divisive religious issues (BJP is a strongly Hindu party).
Congress Party Concedes Defeat as India Backs Modi
India Elections: BJP Appears Headed for Victory

 

[funinspace]

I don't think it is so much that nobody cares, it is that most people have about zero knowledge of the political intrigues within India. Yeah, one could dive deep and learn, but that is also true of the EU, the PRC, Japan, Brazil, and others. Hell, I sometimes don't follow my state politics enough. Though there are a couple Indians who post here that would certainly have opinions on the election.

 

[Sarpedon]

This Modi is a big worry, but is also in a position to do tremendous good. It all depends on what he chooses to do with his majority. If he spends his time reforming the country, clearing red tape, unclogging the courts, fixing the infrastructure, etc, as he has promised, he will be a blessing to the country, and the world. A robust India is good for everyone. (except Pakistan, but seriously, fuck Pakistan)

If he goes the nationalist route: anti-Muslim, isolationism, siege mentality, that will cause a lot of grief.

I for one will miss Manohman Singh, primarily for his modest style and reasonableness. I do understand he was largely ineffectual at the end.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

If Modi is serious about tackling corruption then that would be a huge step forward, since it has absolutely crippled the development of the country. His idea of focusing on providing basic services to the population is a great idea which needs to get implemented as well.

 

[fromderinside]

I believe indian bureaucracy is about one third the number of people as is the us population. If anyone thinks a Hindu who has issues with Muslims is going to shape things up when they've been corrupt from the at least the time of Mahatma, probably 500 years before, one needs to quit smoking that wacky tobacky right now. Please.

 

[Derec]

I don't think it is so much that nobody cares, it is that most people have about zero knowledge of the political intrigues within India.

I didn't know much either but I read up some.

Though there are a couple Indians who post here that would certainly have opinions on the election.

I know there were some on the other side. Maybe they did not do the transition.

 

[Derec]

This Modi is a big worry, but is also in a position to do tremendous good. It all depends on what he chooses to do with his majority. If he spends his time reforming the country, clearing red tape, unclogging the courts, fixing the infrastructure, etc, as he has promised, he will be a blessing to the country, and the world. A robust India is good for everyone. (except Pakistan, but seriously, fuck Pakistan)

If he goes the nationalist route: anti-Muslim, isolationism, siege mentality, that will cause a lot of grief.

In that regard it is probably helpful that BJP apparently will have absolute majority by itself and will not have to rely on smaller, more radical parties that are part of their alliance. But as with everything, time will tell how successful Modi will be.

I for one will miss Manohman Singh, primarily for his modest style and reasonableness. I do understand he was largely ineffectual at the end.

While Singh was instrumental in moving Congress from the state-centric "socialism lite" economic model favored by it for 40 years he is over 80 now and thus was well past his prime by the time he became prime minister. Furthermore Sonia Gandhi, who is head of the party, was too busy grooming her son for premiership.

 

[Sarpedon]

Yes, he is in a unique position to make progress. Now we will see if he does what he promised or pisses it away on religious/nationalist shit.