Congress & BJP

It is too early to conclude that the Congress is no longer a party to reckon with. U.P. is in India, and not vice versa. The Congress victory in Manipur shows that people still have faith in the party. If the BJP wrested Goa and strengthened its foothold in Punjab, so has the Congress in Uttarakhand and Manipur. It was only a battle and the war is two full years away.

Lempu Rangla,

Delhi

Except in Goa, the Congress improved its tally compared to 2007. Its performance might have disappointed in view of the expectations from it. The term ‘debacle' would be more appropriate for the BJP. In sum and substance, what the Congress lost in Goa, the BJP gained, and what Mayawati lost in U.P., Mulayam Singh gained.

The UPA government's neo-liberal policies, corruption, communalism and the BJP's ‘religious fanaticism' do not seem to have made even a dent in the attitude of the electorate. This election, therefore, is not a yardstick for the parties' future performance.

Balakrishnan Nair,

Taliparamba

The Congress' only loss was in Goa. Its performance improved in the other States. In fact, if the trend continues in 2014, the Congress may, as leader of the UPA or any other grouping, yet again be in a position to form the government at the Centre. That will be disastrous.

T. Ramachandran,

Thrissur