Election selection

All indications are that there will be no ‘winner’ in this election. No party is likely to reach 200 in the Lok Sabha. States like AP,TN,Maharashtra,Bihar and UP will matter most in terms of the outcomes there in shaping the all-India scenario post-election. Both UPA and NDA are in the process of being reconstituted and so,who will join whom is an open question. In a democracy,formation of a new government is obviously always of crucial concern for the common citizen and this election is no exception to that.

Avinash Dharamadhikari, former IAS officer
Be it at the centre or Pune constituency,it is very difficult and confusing to predict the results. Apart from impossibles like a BJP and Congress alliance or a BJP and Left alliance,anything else is possible. Voting turnout in Pune and Mumbai has been shamefully low and that could be read as an expression of lack of confidence in current political system and also due to usual Indian indifference. However,Maharashta will be a swing state and will play a crucial role in deciding nation’s future. Apart from Maharashtra,winners at Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are also to be watched for. Talking of Mumbai mood,it’s going anti-congress,while Pune can only be ready for a change but what exactly is in store is tough to say.

Vote the Talk
Neeraj Bhatt,businessman
The city has been under the same MP for the last term and the one before that. I am guessing that this time they might go in for a change of leadership simply because some of the most basic problems of the citizens like roads,common transport systems have not been addressed even now. According to me,BJP candidate Anil Shirole would be a choice for the Punekars because maybe a change in leadership would see some changes happen in the city for its betterment.

Tarang Gorgaonkar,doctor
I believe this time even though all the candidates were pretty vocal this time,as far as their campaigning was concerned,it’s going to be Suresh Kalmadi again. But it will be a very closely contested election and the only reason why he will win is because of the development done in the Aundh area for the CYG. Outside that there is nothing much that people might remember that has been done in the last five years. However the timing of the CYG was just apt with the upcoming elections so it may just work in his favour

Amrita Advani,student
According to me,Kalmadi will come back for another term. He has been the representative of the city for two successful terms and knows the problems of the city well and will maybe help resolve them this time. Also I found his campaign to be more active and his promises a bit more realistic than those of the other candidates.

Future Stock
Dolly Manghat,astrologer
The Congress will be in power at the centre. At this stage,that’s all I can say,but the Congress seems set to continue its stint in power at the Centre.

Deepak Malani, astrologer
At the centre,it will be a triangular equation,with the Congress,the Left Front and the Third Front forming a coalition government. In Pune,there’s a 99.9 per cent chance of the Congress winning the Lok Sabha seat. After September 9,there will be some improvement in the political situation at the centre and it will become more stable. When we predict the future for a nation as a whole,it’s called Medaniya Jyotish and this time,indications are that either Manmohan Singh or Rahul Gandhi will occupy the PM’s chair.

Jitesh Sundesha,astrologer
The BJP will fare pretty well,both at the Centre and in Maharashtra. The chances of L K Advani becoming the Prime Minister are next to none. However,Rajnath Singh can become a strong contender for the post. The troika of Rajnath Singh,Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh will become stronger and this will pave the way for Rajnath Singh being in a very strong position to lead the nation. The NCP will be wiped out from both the national and the state scene.

Pandit Pravin Sharma, astrologer
It will be the BJP which will form the next government at the Centre. The next Prime Minister will be neither from the Congress nor the BJP,but from the Third Front. It could be either Mayawati or Sharad Pawar or Laloo Prasad Yadav. In Pune too,it will be the BJP which will emerge the winner.

Girish Shah, astrologer
Neither L K Advani nor Manmohan Singh will be the PM this time. Sharad Pawar will emerge as either the King or the Kingmaker in this political scenario,as his stars are very strong till Sep 2009. Pawar’s decisions and words will prove definitive in the formation of the next government.