Indian Elections 2009

With 261 seats in it’s bag, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), is confident of getting support of 11 additional MPs to cross the magic number of 272 needed for a majority in the parliament. Speculation is rife in main stream media that the parties that constituted the fourth front (RJD,SP and LJP) will not be invited to support the UPA government; instead the UPA will rely on like-minded independents and smaller parties to make up for the shortfall.

Apart from the Congress party that won 206 seats on it’s own, the UPA consists of Sharad Pawar’s NCP, M. Karunanidhi’s DMK, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, who won the remaining 55. Leaders of these four parties are expected to be part of the new cabinet. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also expected to join the cabinet.

The PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will give his resignation to the President on Monday who will ask him to continue as the interim-PM. The Election Commission will present the list of successful Lok sabha candidates to President Pratibha Patil on Monday evening.

Dr. Manmohan Singh is expected to be sworn in as the PM either on 20 or 22 May 2009.

May 17th, 2009 | Tags: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha elections, lok sabha results, UPA/Congress | Category: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Election Results, Elections, Indian Politics, National Conference, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Sonia Gandhi, Trinamool Congress, UPA/Congress, coalitions/alliances | Comments (1)

Now that the elections are over and we have a definite verdict with the UPA continuing it’s rule for another five years, it is time to give an applause to the Election Commission.

This herculean effort that lasted a month and enfranchised a fifth of humanity will definitely go down in Indian history as one of our successful endeavors. It was also one of the least violent election in our nation’s history, clearly underlining the maturity of our election process if not our democratic process.

This election witnessed all parts of our nation participating enthusiastically. People defied boycott calls made by separatists in Kashmir and Maoists/Naxals in Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand.  People stood in extremely hot conditions to execute their right.

Some of us will cheer the results, while some of us will be disappointed at the failure of our preferred candidates or parties. But few will doubt that the Election Commission played their role very well. Please join me in congratulating the dedicated staff who made this election a success -  Thank you, you made us proud !

May 16th, 2009 | Tags: Election commission, Lok Sabha elections | Category: Election Results, Elections | Leave a comment

News Update : YSR Reddy sworn in as the Chief Minister on Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive term on Wednesday, May 20 2009

The Congress has managed to win the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections winning 155 of the 294 seats in the state. The main opposition party, TDP, gave a good fight this election leading/winning around 100 seats, but it wasn’t enough to remove the incumbent government of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

• Andhra Assembly polls: YSR all set to lead second term, Indian Express, May 16 2009
• Chiranjeevi’s glamour fails to impress voters, Economic Times, May 16 2009

In another feather in Congress’ cap, they have also managed to win 33 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

May 16th, 2009 | Tags: Andhra Pradesh, Election Results, State Assembly Elections | Category: Andhra Pradesh, Election Results, Elections, Indian Politics, UPA/Congress | Comments (4)

Continuing it’s winning streak, Congress and it’s allies are heading for a majority in the Indian parliament. In a surprizing result, Congress is leading in 21 seats in Uttar Pradesh trouncing it’s rival BJP and other smaller parties like BSP and SP. Their decision to go it alone in UP appear to have paid off.

• Congress emerges biggest gainer in UP, Times of India, May 16 2009
• Left fort collapses in Bengal, registers worst poll performance, Hindustan Times, May 16 2009

Early breakdown at 4:40 p.m. IST is as follows .

The other key wins for Congress and it’s allies include all constituencies in Mumbai and Delhi.

Among the big losers in this election, the Communist parties have failed to win their seats in West Bengal and Kerala. The Congress and it’s allies have won at their expense in these states. It appears that the elctorate did not take it kindly to their breaking away from the previous government. Their loss also firmly seals any opposition to the Indo-US Nuclear treaty.

May 16th, 2009 | Tags: Election Results, Lok Sabha elections, lok sabha results | Category: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Election Results, Elections, Indian Politics, Political Parties, Sonia Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh | Comments (2)