Comments for Lok Sabha Elections 2009 - in-depth news, features, interviews, snapshots and off-beat reports from The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu.

Comment on The salt of the earth by vijaya

vijaya — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:07:57 +0000

Good report.

Comment on A pitched battle in Uttar Pradesh by Indscribe

Indscribe — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:33:38 +0000

Yes, you are right that the BSP is poised to do well. But this is what I don’t understand:

For the last 15 years, in every election I hear that Samajwadi Party is losing Muslims. I really don’t know why but most newspapers predict it. However, this hasn’t happened. It retains 26% vote bank and it has not fallen in the last several elections.

I don’t live in UP. But the only party that first spoke for Batla House inquiry when such atmosphere of fear was created that anybody daring to speak up was almost termed anti-national, was SP. Notwithstanding Amar Singh’s reputation, it is the only party that did raise the issue of arrests of youths of Azamgarh.

And I can never forget that it was Mulayam Singh who had ordered to fire on RSS, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, VHP goons and kept my faith in Indian constitution and our polity (though it later got shaken for sometime when the mosque was demolished).

BSP seems to be a nice party but it doesn’t understand the problems of Muslims. I am yet to see a banner of BSP in Urdu, which is my mother tongue. May be she will get a few votes wherever she has put up Muslim candidates, but I would always go for any candidate of SP irrespective of caste and religion.

Comment on Manifesto watch: parties and promises by ganesh pol

ganesh pol — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:10:01 +0000

This is first time where bunch of promises has taken seriously by some parties and Indian intellectual’s .Because the ideoligicle power will now affect in moving the youth mean literate people
this is the good signs in Indian politics , we hope it should make a great effect

Comment on Manifesto watch: parties and promises by Binny V A

Binny V A — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:50:13 +0000

I hope the Hindu will revisit this list in the future. Compare the promises made by the winning party and the point out what they have implemented/fail to implement.

Comment on Five myths about the Muslim vote by kvcrao33@hotmail.com

kvcrao33@hotmail.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:03:34 +0000

this is excellent study ……which all open minded peopleshould all read….. rao

Comment on Democracy in Maoist citadel by N.Ramamurthy

N.Ramamurthy — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 10:18:03 +0000

Encouraging to see the political groupings are able to meet and ensure polling takes place. Hopefully voter turmnout would improve and encourage non violence amongst the political cardres.
Ram

Comment on Democracy in Maoist citadel by N.Ramamurthy

N.Ramamurthy — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 10:15:44 +0000

Pleased to see that the village community courageously went to poll. Hopefully the so called Moaist or shall I say leftist group and other political groups are able to meet and reach understansding will help confidence building amongst ordinary people and encourage greater participation of local people turn out for excecising their vote. Pray all goes well.

Ram

Comment on AIADMK changes candidate for Central Chennai by T Azeez Luthfullah

T Azeez Luthfullah — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:07:24 +0000

This will help Dayanidhi Maran. The Muslim vote would get split between the two Muslims in the fray. It would be a cakewalk for Dayanidhi Maran. It is a bad move by Jaya. Earlier the scenario was different. S S Chandran had the edge.
Or is it a calculated move to help Dayanidhi whose Sun TV was very lenient towards Jaya during the days of SunTV Vs KalaingerTV fracas?
Strange are the ways of politicians. We cannot guess what is cooking there.

Comment on Will Sri Lanka issue shape voter preference in Tamil Nadu by swami D. Francis

swami D. Francis — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:38:08 +0000

It is very infortunate that the common people are led away by the political parties from the real issue in Sri-Lanka, for getting votes.The vote-face of AIADMK is a classic example.The solution to the vexed problem lies in isolating terrorist outfit LTTE. If people are led away by emotion , then it will help the growth of terrorism, and TN will be the worst hit. The common tamil people ,in Sri-Lanka are ignored at the cost of showing concern for LTTE. It is not highlighted that LTTE does not believe in democracy and is terrorising the people- not releasing them to war-free zone even after international pressure. If permitted to be grown this problem will earn a bad name for all Tamilians in the world.

Comment on South Chennai to Delhi by Partha Sarathy

Partha Sarathy — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:22:38 +0000

Proud to be BITSian FoodKing SarathBabu who graduated from BITS Pilani which is one among the top ranking universities in India today is no push over. He has the indomitable spirit and never say die attitude. He knows well that when a mission is taken up with passion, there are no dreams too large, no innovation unimaginable, no fight unfightable, no peaks unclimbable and no frontiers beyond reach. Its time for all the old golds to make way for the new diamond. Its time to change, time to change, time to change……………………