Indian Voters Have Done Good!

Indian voters have always surprised the exit polls. This time they have agreed to give the Congress a free hand. The Congress is the only progressive party in India, that is reasonably well-maintained. The opposition of BJP is based on divisive notions, and age-old traditions, which do not matter, because what matters is food, water, shelter and clothes.

The manifestos of the Congress and BJP are available on the excellent India-Elections site maintained by an independent group. A comparison is illustrative. Not only the Congress manifesto looks more "ready", it also is not based on "what other parties do" and "why we are better". It is based on "let us work for you". Of late, India is seeing not a great leader, but a team of good leaders - Sonia, Manmohan, Chidambaram and Rahul. Not only this team is well-educated and humble, they are keen on putting their best foot forward. This team has the will and ability to take the country to the next level.

If such governance continues with a free hand, which it does now, and the governance works as people have voted it to work, it would be the best fortune for India. The lesson for other political parties are:

• Don't be a bum (left) - when govt is trying hard to improve things, please don't come in the way with populist speeches or withdrawal of support,
  
• Don't play divisive (BJP) - although the regional parties like Mayawati etc are based on one group (in this case Dalits), no national party can stand on only one group. To be able to grow, you must include all.
• Work hard, work well (example of Congress) - there is no room for corrupt/divisive politicians at the top. People at the top must be leaders by example, must be truly concerned with all Indians as one and many.
  

There are high hopes from the Congress team, but a bad apple can spoil the whole thing. A bad apple can turn humble public servants into free-hand-devils. But this is highly unlikely - the Congress team is on a rock-solid foundation. The team has learnt well from the experiences of India's past - socialist policies in economy, nuclear deal, terrorism, etc. India is prudent and progressive. That's the way it should be.