The best worst days in Kerala..

 I spent the second week of July in Kerala. It was eventful, to say the least. Started with official proceedings and ended in a sober note..

Feels better and relaxed after almost an year and a half.. 

Back to burying myself in work.. 

THE JOKE OF AN ELECTION SYSTEM IN THE OLDEST MODERN DEMOCRACY

 https://swarajyamag.com/world/the-outdated-us-electoral-system-needs-saving

MODI 3.0

The majority is less; the BJP doesn't have a majority on its own and UP has sprung up a surprise. Still, it is MODI 3.0.

Modi Ji has become only the second Indian Prime Minister, after Pdt. Nehru, to win the elections three times in a row. Of course, unlike Pdt. Nehru, Modi has faced an umpteen number of seen and unseen opponents, conspirators from within and outside the country, hostile media spreading misinformation as facts and an opposition which has played every conceivable cards and tricks. 

So who got what?

NDA: Another five years to make India ready for vision 2047 - developed India.

The INDI.A : Future which is as unpredictable as its leaders.

The Nation: Five more years of stable governance with the most popular PM that we have ever seen.

Geo-politics: A resurgent India which leads the Global South and is the toast of the town.

While the results are as expected, in terms of continuity in governance, what happened in UP and its fallout need to be looked at. 

As for future: NDA and INDI.A will not look be the same, post 2026.

Elections - April, May 2024

 The dust has settled, as much as it can, considering the almost always election mode character of Indian politics. The results of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is out. First thing first, the outcome is as expected, Indians have voted for Modi 3.0.

But then, Indian politics is like that river, which seems calm and serene from a distance, seemingly still. Once you step in, you are hit by the water rushing downstream, crushing everything that it comes across.  You are surprised by the depth and will be bewildered by the whirlpools.

Before analyzing the Lok Sabha Election results, we must take notice of the fact that the BJP/ NDA has swept the assembly elections held along with the Lok Sabha Elections. Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have given the majority to BJP/NDA in their respective assemblies. Sikkim Krantikari Morcha retained power in Sikkim

Arunachal Pradesh, hat-trick for BJP, and Sikkim, second term for Sikkim Krantikari Morcha who support NDA at the centre, results don't have any surprises.

Andhra Pradesh results, where I voted, is also as expected. But, there is a surprise element in Andhra elections. The spectacular show by Pavan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party is commendable. It won all 21 assembly seats and 2 Lok Sabha seats that it contested, a 100% strike rate by the Power Star !!

The real stunner is Odisha, where the BJP stormed into power with 78 seats in 147 member house. The five-time CM Naveen Patnaik who has been in power for 24 years is dethroned. This result is the real surprise in this round of elections.

So, what about the Lok Sabha Elections?

To be continued....

Modi Ji's musings after meditation at Kanyakumari

 The words penned by Modi ji while returning from Kanyakumari

https://www.narendramodi.in/new-sankalps-from-the-sadhana-in-kanyakumari-582982

The Long Summer

As usual, the summer is getting too long and too boring.. Missing the youngsters who are the driving force of my existence. The Lok Sabha elections kept my mind engaged for much of these holidays. The unimaginative and utterly negative campaigning from the opposition has made the elections even more one sided. On the other hand, Modi Ji's daily speeches and interviews have brought some historical facts back into focus. 

Waiting for June 4th... 

New Voter

So, this time around, I got the opportunity to vote in Kalyandurg constituency, Andhra Pradesh. Delighted to have used my right.. However, I felt that the voting process was too slow. I reached the polling booth at 7:15 AM and could come out only after 8.45 AM. Barely 100 voters were in queue when I reached there. So, what took it so long?

As the day progressed, voters had to wait for close to 3 hours in queue to exercise their right. The BJP has officially complained about this to the ECI. 

 So who will win the elections?