Socialism is in the party's DNA and in the very being of the Nehru-Gandhi family says Sidharth Bhatia in the DNA (Daily News and Analysis). The Congress is now going back to its Socialist roots. Investors would do well to prepare themselves for large-scale spending on the social sector, usually perceived as a waste of precious resources. The emphasis will now be about the dusty tracks in rural India where Kalavati lives. This shift is not simply because it has brought the party electoral … [Read more...]
How BJP lost the plot
May 25, 2009 By 1 Comment
The emphatic victory of the Congress-UPA alliance may not have just a single explanation, says R. Jagannathan in the DNA, citing specific instances where the BJP lost the plot. The emphatic victory of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) may not have one single explanation. There are state-level explanations for its victories in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and West Bengal, for instance. But the fact that the party dented rivals such as BJP and Mayawati in their home … [Read more...]
Mask upon mask in the BJP
May 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
In the Indian Express, Kumar Ketkar weighs in on the evolution of that very broad term, the 'Sangh', examining its genesis and eventual inevitable disintegration. The newly emerging middle class, which was the product of economic liberalisation, was the exact opposite of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, another Parivar outfit, which opposed globalisation and Americanisation. But for militant Hinduism, the BJP-led front could not have come to power. But to seek power through such militancy and to … [Read more...]
After the elections: What’s next on India’s economic agenda?
May 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
As commentators and pundits heave sighs of relief that India will probably enjoy a stable five-year term free from the diktats of right-wing loonies or left-wing fundamentalists, Knowledge @ Wharton looks at what will be next on the economic agenda. It looks like labour law reforms might finally be on the cards, infrastructure investment should now be stepped up, maybe there will be some privatisation of state enterprise, a definite global show of confidence in the Indian economy is expected … [Read more...]
A verdict that’s more or less national
May 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
What do the election results tell us about the mood of the nation, asks Vir Sanghvi in the Hindustan Times. The Muslim vote, the Gandhi factor (and no, not just Rahul Gandhi, but the other Gandhi grandson who might have had a large role to play in the Congress victory as well) and the wonderfully liberating thought that maybe, just maybe, caste isn't always going to be everything in Indian politics. Read the article here. … [Read more...]
‘He has a vision of India like his dad’
May 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
... says Sam Pitroda, in this Rediff interview. He'll open doors for you, like his dad did. He's extremely personable, and very caring. His heart is in the right place and he's committed to working in India because he said, 'Look, my grandmother gave her life, my father gave his life, and if I don't do what I am supposed to do, it's just not fair to me and my family'. He's genuinely committed to a larger cause. Read more here. … [Read more...]
