The day after

The problem with the Congress is that it invokes visions of past glory while the BJP is talking of a future India 8216;BJP h...

The problem with the Congress is that it invokes visions of past glory while the BJP is talking of a future India 8216;BJP has 3-course Cong lunch8217;, IE, December 5. Going by the current 8216;8216;feel good8217;8217; mood in the country, the future looks rosier than the past.

If the Congress party wants to effectively compete with the BJP, it needs to reinvent itself 8212; just like the BJP is transforming itself from a party with reactionary, obscurantist tendencies to a right-of-centre, pro-reform national party.

The Congress needs to rethink its family-centric operation. It needs to realise that India is changing, the younger generation is not in awe of the 8216;8216;glory8217;8217; of a single family.
8212; Jit Dutta, On e-mail

Easy excuses

Our politicians need to thank the person who introduced the term 8216;8216;anti-incumbency8217;8217; in the political realm. This term seems part of every politician8217;s vocabulary to mask all-round failure to meet the expectations of the electorate.
Politicians will never realise that if you do well and solve the social and economic problems of the people rather than indulge in personal aggrandizement and scams, the people will vote you back back into office.

People do not just want change. They want a change from inefficient governments.
8212; Pradeep Narayanan, On e-mail

Backroom boys

The BJP8217;s victory in the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan has altered political dynamics in India. This unprecedented, and unexpected, victory has not only established the party in the Hindi heartland, but it has also given it a major morale boost for the forthcoming general elections.
The victory has re-established the credibility of the dangerous duo of Arun Jaitley and Pramod Mahajan, who have together very meticulously scripted the party8217;s historic win 8216;Team BJP burnt the midnight oil, the Sphinx a candle only at one end8217;, IE, December 5. The professionalism exhibited by both of them is admirable and is a preview of the role they shall play in the next elections.
8212; Nipun Thakur, Mumbai

Be positive

This refers to your twin editorials 8216;New voter, new BJP8217; and 8216;The disconnected Hand8217; December 5. The BJP is, of course, becoming a more and more mainstream party by the day and these elections have proved that it can win even without any divisive or emotional issue.

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The Congress party has only its own managers to blame for the debacle; they thought that the voter could be influenced by the negative politics of mud-slinging and accusations. It was a blunder on the part of the Congress president to target the Central government on national issues in state election campaigning instead of stressing upon the achievements of its own governments in the states.
8212; M.C. Joshi, Lucknow

Now, deliver

Congratulations to the voters of all the five states for so decisively electing political parties, though different ones, with absolute majorities. Now it is up to the elected governments to perform and deliver on the promises made in their manifestos and campaigns.
8212; H.M. Ghorawat, On e-mail