The Election Commission of India has announced the election dates in four phases for the 14 "Lok Sabha" Elections and some State Legsilative Assembly Elections on 20th 25th April & 5th and 10th May 2004 The Results will be counted on 13th May 2004. The present term of the Lok Sabha was October 2004 however it was prematurely dissolved on 6.2.2004
The Electronic Voting Machines will be used all over unlike the earlier mode of the ballot paper. The MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT comes into force with immediate effect. There are SIX National parties Bharatiya Janata Party BJP (rightwing hindu fascist) Indian National CongressINC (secular) Bahujan Samaj Party BSP (dalit(untouchables) Communist Party of India CPI( communist) Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI (M) ( communist) National Congress Party NCP (secular) AND 48 regional parties viz SP AIADMK SS DMK Akali Dal Rashtriya Janta Dal etc. The 13 Lok Sabha ruling dispenstation was labelled as the National Democratic Alliance --- NDA intended to function on a COMMON MINIMUM PROGRAMME . In reality it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led 24 political party alliance some of which were political parties with just a couple of Member of Parliaments constituting the political outfit. To date the 24 political parties have shrunk to 19 and by the time it is Election date there is bound to be further permutation and combinations leaving a confused electorate who will rely only on "word of mouth" on "doomsday" to decide their Parliamentary representative for the next term May 2004 to April 2009 (5 years ) The major parties in the fray as of now is the Bharatiya Janata Party led by Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee 79 years and similarly the Indian National Congress led by Smt Sonia Gandhi 50 years along with a few PRE-ELECTION political outfits in alliance. It is an accepted fact that COALITION ERA is here to stay in Indian politics, unless the voter decides to usher in a two party Government. To enable voters who go to the polls (if their names figure on the electoral rolls - as many dont due to errors of commission and omission of the election authorites) a PRIMER by way of Fact sheet on the UNSAVOURY PAST term of the present ruling dispensation National Democratic alliance NDA or the BJP led 24 political parties ( now 19 )performance. no PRIMER on the achievements is listed herein as the Rupees 450 crore "INDIA SHINING advertisements " are sufficient for all to see. PRIMER & FACT SHEET (UNSAVOURY PAST) kargill war coffin scam Tehelka expose stock scam Unit Trust of India melt down Petrol pump allotment scam Gujarat carnage (Signal Falia) 10 month of cross border terrorism 10 lakh troops mobilisation 2000 suicides by farmers Two joint parliamentary committees a)stock market 52 counts indicts Finance ministry for failure to excercise caution and control b)pesticides residues in bottled drinks 450 crores public funds on India shining etc: disrespect shown to ex President of India Mr K R Narayan 1999, Comptroller & Auditor General, Election Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission Indian Parliament bypassed on HPCL BPCL sell off until restored by SC Rule and ordinances issued on Prasar Bharati Act. On the Opposition side the Indian National Congress the Rajiv Gandhi technology missions under Dr Sam Pitroda, the IT revolution (only software not hardware) since 1984 seeds of 1991 Liberalisation policy sown by ex Prime Minister Mr P V Narasimha Rao & ex Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh should not be lost sight of Finally for the voter it is essential to CAST ONES SACRED VOTE --- and to remember what is important for the well being of this country is a)RESPECT FOR OUR SACRED CONSTITUTION, b)SECULARISM c)STABILITY and d)SOUND ECONOMIC POLICIES which can ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE of INDIANS and RESPECT For the RULE OF LAW in the era of Globalisation -- 21st century. The WTO regime comes into force from April 2004. However here is a NOTE OF CAUTION by the time the poll campaign nears its end the last resort for the ruling dispensation in case they sense that the anti incumbency factor will decide the ballot;the most dangerous venom spewed with the tacit support of the Bharatiya Janata Party to its right wing fanatical "groups" which were used conveniently to ensure that the 24 party alliance adhered to the clandestine BJP agenda under cover of the Common Minimum Programme and which proved successful at the hustings in Gujarat then in Rajashthan, and Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh which have a massive tribal electorate is the dreaded "Moditva formula" ---viz; --- "ONCE THE ELECTORATE GETS USED TO VOTING ON THE BASIS OF HATRED, RELIGION OR CASTE THE ONLY TASK LEFT WILL BE TO KEEP THE TENSION BURNING ON THE POLL EVE " Add to this to inspire fear distribution of trident is simultaneously followed by venomous utterances and threats of physical torture (as in Gujarat) to terrorise minds of the electorate may be resorted to. GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa (INDIA) [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Insurance Special: Be informed on the best policies, services, tools and more. Go to: http://in.insurance.yahoo.com/licspecial/index.html ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
