Riding the wave of resentment towards the DMK regime marred by corruption and nepotism, the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK has achieved a massive victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. Corruption free governance should be the new Chief Minister's top priority.
As for Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front, which has won a wafer thin majority, should give more importance to the politics of consensus to ensure that the State is firmly on the path of sustainable development.
M. Jeyaram,Sholavandan
While extending our best wishes to Ms Jayalalithaa, we hope she will concentrate on putting things in order and fulfil her promises. It is hoped that she will not fritter away her time and energy in undoing the projects completed by the previous government. The new secretariat complex in Chennai has been completed by utilising a huge amount of people's resources by the outgoing government. Should it be allowed to become redundant?
Kasim Sait,Chennai
The Assembly elections are a definite prelude to the 2014 general election. People have virtually voted against the BJP. More surprising is the patience they still have with the Congress, notwithstanding the spate of scams in the UPA government. The party should get the message that bringing the culprits in the CWG and the 2G scam to book can save its face. On the other hand, the BJP is faced with the enormous task of finding an able, clean prime ministerial candidate who has mass appeal and can convince a secular electorate that Hindutva alone does not determine its election agenda.
Kshitij Bansal,Patiala
The results of the Assembly elections have proved that we are decisively moving towards a multi-party system and reinforcing our federal character. Therefore, even while the forces of globalisation are at play, local forces also matter. The Indian masses do not want a “revolution.” They prefer “evolution.” That is why they launched a long freedom struggle. Even after independence, we took 30 years to throw out single-party rule. The Indian voter's maturity level is increasing with time.
Mangesh Chivate,New Delhi
Whatever their other shortcomings, the representatives of the Left parties have proved to be better legislators and upheld the dignity and decorum of the House. With the Left losing in West Bengal and Kerala, one wonders how it will fare in the next Lok Sabha election. It would be sad for Indian democracy if the Left parties lose.
There may be many reasons for the poor performance of the Left parties in the Assembly elections, particularly in West Bengal. It is time for people responsible for the debacle to make way for persons who can understand the nation's pulse.
Suchtana Swaroop,Tumkur
Mamata Banerjee's landslide victory in West Bengal is really a momentous occasion. But it is not correct to call it ‘historic.' We have seen many such victories in general elections across the country, some of which gave way to nothing but a government worse than the outgoing one.
Let us hope the decisive mandate in West Bengal will pave the way for some real good governance.
Debotosh Chatterjee,Durgapur
