POWER & POLITICS
Poll Results Aren't Out Yet, But Here's what the Parties Will Say
Poll Results Aren't Out Yet, But Here's what the Parties Will Say
After a gruelling eight-week poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, political leaders are busy rehearsing their lines for post-results talk shows. While in the field, they thought of nothing other than winning elections by promising the moon to voters. Now, with the possibility of defeat staring them in their face, they have turned into film actors, getting lessons in deflecting and dodging questions on earlier boasts. Here’s what they are going to say:
If the Congress loses in all the states, including Uttar Pradesh: “We’ve improved our ballots tally as our party has polled more votes than it did during the last election. Rahulji was able to attract more crowds but the party failed to carry his message to the masses. The Congress organisation was very weak in most places. Local leaders have lost touch with workers. Candidate selection was faulty—state leaders got tickets for relatives. The local administration was working against the Congress. The alliance with Ajit Singh wasn’t Rahulji’s idea.”
If it wins in Punjab, Uttarakhand and loses in Uttar Pradesh: “It’s a vote for clean government. Voters have expressed full faith in Soniaji and Rahulji’s leadership. They have proved once again that only they can win elections for the Congress. Rahulji was able to activate the Youth Congress through democratisation of the organisation. He sidelined old satraps and infused young blood into the party. The people of the two states were impressed by Rahulji’s performance in Uttar Pradesh.”
If the Congress wins 60-70 seats in Uttar Pradesh and forms the government in Uttarakhand: “Voters have expressed full support for Rahulji’s anointment as India’s next prime minister. It’s his hard work and aggressive campaigning that turned young voters in Congress’s favour. He is now ready to take over the top job and lead the party in 2014.”
If BJP gets more than 70 seats in Uttar Pradesh, wins Goa and retains Uttarakhand: “People have totally rejected the corrupt Congress and its dynastic leaders. Voters have given a befitting reply to the UPA’s vote bank politics and minority appeasement. Voters have chosen our clean leaders as they see the BJP as the only alternative. Our agenda is development. Our president Nitin Gadkari took a calculated risk by fielding new candidates. The party won the elections under his leadership. Other big leaders don’t matter.”
If the BJP comes No. 4 in Uttar Pradesh, winning less seats than the Congress, loses in Punjab and Goa but retains Uttarakhand: “We lost because of divisive politics played by other parties. Our honest leader B C Khanduri has been elected but we lost in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, thanks to corruption among our candidates. The Badals were a liability. Too many local leaders were fighting each other in Uttar Pradesh. Our workers weren’t able to carry our programmes and ideology to the masses. Candidate selection was faulty.”
If the BJP loses in all the states: “All anti-BJP parties joined hands in the name of secularism and created a sense of insecurity among the minorities. Our vote share, however, has improved and our popularity graph is on the rise.”
If Samajwadi Party (SP) wins a near-majority, becoming the single largest party: “The people have voted out Uttar Pradesh’s most corrupt government ever. They have expressed confidence in Mulayam Singh Yadav’s wisdom and endorsed Akhilesh Yadav’s induction as our next leader. Uttar Pradesh has chosen its local son over the son from Delhi.”
If SP becomes the single largest party but needs Congress support to form the government: “Uttar Pradesh has voted for secularism and has rejected the idea of communalism. It has expressed confidence in youth leaders, Rahul and Akhilesh who champion development in the state.”
If SP fails to become the single largest party or wins fewer seats than it did in 2007: “We lost because of a secret understanding between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), BJP and the Congress. They played caste politics by choosing candidates from castes that could defeat our backward caste leaders. Officers loyal to Mayawati influenced voters. But our popular vote is still intact, and in fact, has even gone up in certain areas.”
If the BSP retains its majority or emerges as the single largest party: “Behenji has trounced her challengers who employed money and muscle power. These parties were supported by rich people. Voters have endorsed the great development that occurred in Uttar Pradesh under Mayawati’s five-year rule. The poorest of the poor have won. All attempts to dislodge India’s only Dalit chief minister have been foiled by the people. They want to see her as the next prime minister.”
If it wins enough seats to form the government with the help of either the BJP or the Congress: “The voters have rejected Samajwadi Party’s ‘goonda’ politics. They want Behenji to form the next government, ensure stability at the Centre and play a major role in national politics to become an important player in the formation of the next government in Delhi.”
If BSP gets less than 100 seats: “It’s a conspiracy by the rich and the mighty. Manuwadi forces supported by moneybags from other states ensured a Dalit will not rule Uttar Pradesh. Even the Election Commission (EC) helped them. EVMs have been manipulated. EC didn’t take any action against the Congress and BJP leaders. It was an unfair election.”
prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com Follow me on Twitter @PrabhuChawla
If it wins in Punjab, Uttarakhand and loses in Uttar Pradesh: “It’s a vote for clean government. Voters have expressed full faith in Soniaji and Rahulji’s leadership. They have proved once again that only they can win elections for the Congress. Rahulji was able to activate the Youth Congress through democratisation of the organisation. He sidelined old satraps and infused young blood into the party. The people of the two states were impressed by Rahulji’s performance in Uttar Pradesh.”
If the Congress wins 60-70 seats in Uttar Pradesh and forms the government in Uttarakhand: “Voters have expressed full support for Rahulji’s anointment as India’s next prime minister. It’s his hard work and aggressive campaigning that turned young voters in Congress’s favour. He is now ready to take over the top job and lead the party in 2014.”
If BJP gets more than 70 seats in Uttar Pradesh, wins Goa and retains Uttarakhand: “People have totally rejected the corrupt Congress and its dynastic leaders. Voters have given a befitting reply to the UPA’s vote bank politics and minority appeasement. Voters have chosen our clean leaders as they see the BJP as the only alternative. Our agenda is development. Our president Nitin Gadkari took a calculated risk by fielding new candidates. The party won the elections under his leadership. Other big leaders don’t matter.”
If the BJP comes No. 4 in Uttar Pradesh, winning less seats than the Congress, loses in Punjab and Goa but retains Uttarakhand: “We lost because of divisive politics played by other parties. Our honest leader B C Khanduri has been elected but we lost in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, thanks to corruption among our candidates. The Badals were a liability. Too many local leaders were fighting each other in Uttar Pradesh. Our workers weren’t able to carry our programmes and ideology to the masses. Candidate selection was faulty.”
If the BJP loses in all the states: “All anti-BJP parties joined hands in the name of secularism and created a sense of insecurity among the minorities. Our vote share, however, has improved and our popularity graph is on the rise.”
If Samajwadi Party (SP) wins a near-majority, becoming the single largest party: “The people have voted out Uttar Pradesh’s most corrupt government ever. They have expressed confidence in Mulayam Singh Yadav’s wisdom and endorsed Akhilesh Yadav’s induction as our next leader. Uttar Pradesh has chosen its local son over the son from Delhi.”
If SP becomes the single largest party but needs Congress support to form the government: “Uttar Pradesh has voted for secularism and has rejected the idea of communalism. It has expressed confidence in youth leaders, Rahul and Akhilesh who champion development in the state.”
If SP fails to become the single largest party or wins fewer seats than it did in 2007: “We lost because of a secret understanding between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), BJP and the Congress. They played caste politics by choosing candidates from castes that could defeat our backward caste leaders. Officers loyal to Mayawati influenced voters. But our popular vote is still intact, and in fact, has even gone up in certain areas.”
If the BSP retains its majority or emerges as the single largest party: “Behenji has trounced her challengers who employed money and muscle power. These parties were supported by rich people. Voters have endorsed the great development that occurred in Uttar Pradesh under Mayawati’s five-year rule. The poorest of the poor have won. All attempts to dislodge India’s only Dalit chief minister have been foiled by the people. They want to see her as the next prime minister.”
If it wins enough seats to form the government with the help of either the BJP or the Congress: “The voters have rejected Samajwadi Party’s ‘goonda’ politics. They want Behenji to form the next government, ensure stability at the Centre and play a major role in national politics to become an important player in the formation of the next government in Delhi.”
If BSP gets less than 100 seats: “It’s a conspiracy by the rich and the mighty. Manuwadi forces supported by moneybags from other states ensured a Dalit will not rule Uttar Pradesh. Even the Election Commission (EC) helped them. EVMs have been manipulated. EC didn’t take any action against the Congress and BJP leaders. It was an unfair election.”
prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com Follow me on Twitter @PrabhuChawla
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