> I don't think the BJP lost because of the "hindutva-RSS > cancer", but rather due to bad campaign and worse candidates.
Your thoughts contradict those within the (lack of) BJP leadership itself. > The more educated and liberal voters (usually in urban centres) Why do ppl have such a dim view of the rural folks? > don't make or break elections in India. It > is them who might not vote for the BJP because of > the hindutva-RSS > association. As for the rest (around 80%), > they have more important things > to worry about and if a hardline Hindu nationalist party will > assuage them, > they will give it their vote. Again, the assumption that urban voters are not worried about "more important things" doesnt convince me at all. Could you also enlighten me on the "more important things" plz. Anyway to me nothing is more important than freedom of thought. > is them who might not vote for the BJP because of the hindutva-RSS > association. You mean - if someone destroys the country from within, it is allright (for the 80% of the rural folks) as long as more important things are taken care of. > It is surprising that many think that the Congress victory > is a mandate against hardline Hinduism (and therefore the BJP). > Congress ran a more grassroots campaign, better candidates, > and overall was the party the masses could identify with. It could be more complex than that. Could you tell me in what way were the congress candidates better and what was this grassroots campaign that BJP failed to go through with. The BJP was definitely doing better campaign at the grassroot level. The campaigning was done door to door. Huge amount of money was spent. The candidates put up by congress and others were equally horrendous. > What is sad (at least for me) is that because of the problems > with/in the BJP (and if it sinks like many predict), > India is deprived of a good Right-wing party. OTOH, if they sink/drown (which i dont think likely), Indians will be ridding themselves of an internal enemy far more potent than any other. > Given our rabid socialist tendencies (and history), good > right wing politics would bring much needed balance. > However, I'm glad Manmohan is the PM now rather than Advani. In the same breath. Amazing. Why **not** Advani? Lukhman.
