The exit polls proved right in terms of the overall picture. The actual results only show that using and raising religion as a key issue no longer resonates with the electorate. The Telangana verdict shows that the Bharatiya Janata Party still has no place beyond the Vindhyas. It is strange that a section of the people still vote for the BJP even as a large percentage of the electorate is able to see through the party’s hollow promises of there being good days. The writing on the wall as far as 2019 is concerned is clear.
K. Malikul Azeez,
Chennai
The results, which are being seen as a semi-final to next year’s 2019 Lok Sabha elections, are bound to make Congress president Rahul Gandhi more self-confident. These Assembly polls also saw national issues being mixed along with regional topics. The dynamic Prime Minister does not seem to command the public acceptability and popularity which were seen earlier.
Jayasree Thampi,
Thiruvananthapuram
Elections are the only opportunity people have to show how they consider those in power and who they voted for and elected. It is clear that India will not be an Opposition-mukt, or for that matter, a Congress-mukt Bharat. Temple politics and a sectarian agenda have been rejected. Voters seem to have made it clear that India needs a strong Opposition if it has to be a vibrant democracy. Rahul Gandhi has proved that he can emerge as a leader, given time. One hopes that the major political parties study the lessons from these elections and results before they prepare for 2019.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bengaluru
The results, whether seen to be positive or negative for the BJP, show that demonetisation, tall promises such as bringing back black money from foreign shores into people’s bank accounts in India and a couldn’t-care-less attitude towards the plight of farmers played a crucial role in the choices made by voters. The results have also cast their shadow on the 2019 parliamentary elections.
Rajakumar Arulanandham,
Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu
The results are gladdening and create hope that everything is not over yet. The people cannot be fooled all the time with false promises. Eventually, the tall promises became impossible to fulfil. The BJP has miles to go before it sleeps but only promises to break. It must remember that it was given a thumping verdict in 2014. The results are a warning. The party should also realise that it can no longer take the Congress for granted.
H. Nagesh Bhandarkar,
Chennai
The results are a slap in the face of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its offshoots such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal. They are also a blow to the two key leaders in the BJP who are acting with arrogance and showing a ‘don’t care’ attitude as far as the common man is concerned. For 2019, the Opposition needs to work in tandem with only one motto: defeat the BJP.
Tharcius S. Fernando,
Chennai
The Congress should not consider this as its victory. If it does, it is deluded. The election results may be the result of anger against the BJP but, at the same time, are not a reflection of love for or confidence in the Congress.
Radha Subramanian,
Chennai
