Why the Congress Won?

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Ask any Congressman about the spectacular victory and comes the answer that the victory is the result of Sonia and Rahul factor alone.

But it’s not.

Eventhough UPA has many unpopular policies to its credit it has managed to surprise everyone with the margin of victory. It was expected to emerge as the single largest party but not this large. The reasons for its victory in my opinion are:

1) Clean image of Dr. Manmohan Singh combined with unparalleled record as an administrator in the country. Add to this his erudition and superb academic record which is more appealing to educated youth than the rhetoric of hardcore Hindutva.

2) Pro-incumbency factor in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh; anti-incumbency factor in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.

3) In MP Congress gained from the Muslim votes thanks to Varun Gandhi’s hate speech.

4) In Orissa BJP paid for its divisive politics; BJD got absolute majority in Assembly elections and Congress made inroads in Loksabha elections. BJP lost everything.

5) In UP Congress has managed to match Mayavati’s BSP and Samajvadi Party’s tally – it may be attributed to the fact that it went all alone and extensively campaigned in the state. Also all Muslim votes of Samajvadi party were cast in favour of Congress because of the Kalyan Singh and Azam Khan factors.

6) Congress has many young leaders who are visible and clean – Sachn Pilot, Naveen Jindal, Priya DUtt, Rahul Gandhi, Scindiya, Milind Deora and many others. They have done good work and are recognizable on the national scene.

7) Congress making non-issue of main issues – i.e. nuclear deal and national security were not given importance in the campaign – this was a right thing to do as people were concerned more about job, electricity, water and food.

8 ) The failure on part of BJP to make right noises helped Congress immensely.

9) The formation of third front helped Congress as people did not want excessively fragmented political scenario in the country.

10) This time more urban people have voted Congress thanks to the appeal of Manmohan Singh as the credible PM candidate to that of L.K.Advani.

11) People still can’t forget that the price of kerosene and grains rocketed because of its policies when it was in power.

12) High tech agenda does not help. India is still a developing poor rural country.

13) NREGA, JNURM, RTI, 6th Pay Commission, and farm loan waiver  have helped to some extent.

14) Wise move by Congress in West BEngal to ally with Trinamool Congress.

15)Finally Rahul Gandhi’s strategy in UP has worked. He wanted to keep Sp and BSP at equal distance and go it alone.

Congress should understand that the victory is not entirely because of its previous policies but because of diverse factors. It has many failures to its credit. It must correct its mistakes and respect people’s verdict.

We don’t expect it to be overzealous in liberalization, privatization especially in financial sector. We do not expect another blast anywhere in the country and it’s Congress’ obligation to see to that.

We want every basic amenity provided to every person o f this country at any cost. We have voted for peace, security, water, electricity, food, shelter and accountability.

If Rahul choses to be a Minister then he must chose Rural Development ministry to prove that his ideals are not hypocritical.

I hope the government we have chosen meets the expectations of the people.

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Tags: 15th lok sabha, 15th lok sabha elections congress wins, lok sabha election result, manmohan singh