I am publishing this a day earlier. Election campaign is finally over in India. The entire world can only guess the size and scale. No part in the world could match the democracy exercise that India just went through. It is the largest franchise in the world. And, India, and the people of India celebrate it to the core.
This election season was as intense as it can get. Political parties and candidates have put in all their might, their energy and soul into it. They know, if they lose this time; the wait is for 5 years. So, 'make it happen, and happen this time' is the mantra that they are following. "Win at any cost" is true, if you follow the entire discourse. The sloganeering, and language has gotten only cruel, abuses have become common, lies or twisting of facts are thrown as weapons. I cannot say that the political discourse has gotten low or lowest this time, as I have seen this happening every election past many-many years. The only difference this time is real-time news coverage, and spread of the coverage; that makes this years and future elections very different from the prior ones.
In this process, media and social media is being used, misused and abused. They are being played into by each side. Media thinks that Information is being thrown and they think they are lapping into it. But is is reverse. They are made to lap onto it. You could sense optimism and pessimism in every news in how it is covered.
Anyways as the current prime minister has said, that the biggest festival of democracy is about to conclude. All the political pundits have started putting their predictions, math and statistics and formulating the various possibilities. Obviously NDA is claiming a clear majority and the other two groups (UPA and Third front) are claiming that they will secure the maximum no of seats. The intellectuals and news outlets are clearly indicating a major lead for NDA; however still short of half way mark. I predict it to be plus-minus 25 seats for BJP from the half-way mark; and NDA to secure the full majority by themselves.
Let us wait for the May 23; when the results will be out. Let the people come out as triumphant. Long live the democracy.
