Statewide and National runup to 2014 General elections

Gus · Post by **Gus** » 05 Dec 2013 00:56

bjp does look like it missed capturing some of that energy/people that went to AAP. they could have been more organised, more unity, got rid of that goel and projected harshvardhan from beginning etc. how much it hurt them electorally at the polls is yet to be seen. worst case scenario would be constituencies where INC > BJP+AAP

wherever AAP won with AAP > BJP > INC, means they won fair and square as far as our elections go and deserve their chance to show what they can do.

Hopefully there is not many of former and less of the latter so bjp can form a majority of their own.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 05 Dec 2013 01:03

Lilo wrote:
RajeshA wrote:Actually I think this is a massive failure of ABVP to fish for these guys in time
ABVP is not fashionable enough to be associated with for the yuppies drowned in MSM's Sikular koolaid.
That's the fact which AAP tapped into to bring yuppie numbers into its fold.

Despite the SM awakening ,after getting into power BJP shud literally OWN the MSM to bring back patriotism (and Bharateeyata) back into fashion.

Yuppies do belong to the 20 types of Secularists.

Here the problem is indeed one of image, where "Western modernity" in India has forced everything Bharatiya to look "uncool"! Change in this perception is a mid-term plan! However good looking young ladies in one's political corner always help in selling one's politics as well. That is where I think ABVP can concentrate, especially using the issue of women's security.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 05 Dec 2013 03:30

Like I said.... http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 5#p1549205

SwamyG wrote:Modi needs to nullify AAP in his speeches. BJP cannot pretend he does not exist, he is eating their votes.

The other day some "Senior Journalist" on NDTV said "Kejriwal for CM, Modi for PM" (or something to that effect). Multiple parties are good for a strong check+balance of democracies. However from a general election point of view, BJP should be able to convince voters that it is the best party out there.

Calling people who vote for AAP as idiots, aaptards ityadi are fun, but then it is the easy way out and not wishing to understand the reasons some vote they way they do. Hopefully, BJP think-tank is working on such questions so that they can get the correct message out to the right groups.

Gus · Post by **Gus** » 05 Dec 2013 03:40

if so-called yuppies are indeed shallow as they are projected to be, then it should also be easy to get them to bjp camp, no?

derogatorily calling/grouping people who bjp failed to get into their camp just comes across as a case of sour grapes.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 05 Dec 2013 04:02

Lack of eqvt icon who could target the youth was a big hole in bjp camp, till modi arrived. Yuppy crowd wants quick fix answers...nuanced secularism, national security review etc is too high funda. Inc thought MSM and RG dimples were enough but he was simply not up to the task. Kejriwal played the game savvily...anna movement for spark, his IIT tag for people like us appeal, his IRS tag for guilt factor and saint halo...look he went for govt service and not into chasing money etc.
Bjp should have settled on modi earlier and unleashed him, parrikar, and better spokespeople earlier itself. Instead they allowed LKA to almost sink the entire effort and let antiBJP demonisation in msm continue 24/7 without even token resistance.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 05 Dec 2013 04:48

Karan M wrote:Lack of eqvt icon who could target the youth was a big hole in bjp camp, till modi arrived. Yuppy crowd wants quick fix answers...nuanced secularism, national security review etc is too high funda. Inc thought MSM and RG dimples were enough but he was simply not up to the task. Kejriwal played the game savvily...anna movement for spark, his IIT tag for people like us appeal, his IRS tag for guilt factor and saint halo...look he went for govt service and not into chasing money etc.
Bjp should have settled on modi earlier and unleashed him, parrikar, and better spokespeople earlier itself. Instead they allowed LKA to almost sink the entire effort and let antiBJP demonisation in msm continue 24/7 without even token resistance.

Remember how we all were in our youth?

We were naive & idealistic on one side, rebel from another side. Modern on one side, secular from another side. We thought solutions were simple and straight forward to find and implement, only if people performed. We thought the right person would be able to pull it off all the time. If our heroes in the movies could find solutions so easily and teach villains a lesson and convert them into a good human.....

It is that crowd that BJP has to target in the next few months, in addition to whatever it is doing now. For the first time BJP did correct by electing Modi. We hope there is more good to come. And watching Modi's campaign is heartening, they are able to push the right buttons and pull the right levers. I am confident they will achieve this. Unless something controversial happens, Modi has caught the imagination of people. Time to covert them into votes. After these elections, the BJP cadres will be energized and will get it done. Modi should continue to select the best, able, honest and people with integrity in all states. As much as possible

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 05 Dec 2013 04:59

+1 Swamyg garu

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 05 Dec 2013 04:59

agree saar.

main thing is to catch items which youth want and focus on that. eco growth, modernised infra, opportunities, appeals to national pride via s&t, and so forth. and also that govt is theirs and will not be corrupt, against them etc.

anything deviating from this - will only be used by INC-msm alliance to dilute the message and spread fears of oh-so-bad fascist yindoos.

modi followed above principle with gusto whenever he visited colleges etc and got rave reviews- it sent shivers down msm.

for now, i want campaigning to be more intense and also with more than just modi. but its also a question of expense and roi.

next challenge but perhaps for future, will be to hold off AAP. i hope they dont go national and become another congress-lite pandering to "secular forces", ergo more vote banks.

geeth · Post by **geeth** » 05 Dec 2013 05:05

We all know how much effort was required to convert just ONE hard ore kongi supporter in this forum to take a neutral position. Imagine the difficulty in converting thousands of them with same pedigree..why blame BJP when we know the truth that they may be brainy, but lack in common sense.

VikramS · Post by **VikramS** » 05 Dec 2013 05:14

AAP will go national in LS elections in urban areas.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 05 Dec 2013 05:21

VikramS wrote:AAP will go national in LS elections in urban areas.

in which case i hope they eat into INC votes. the entire anti-bjp, i am more sophisticated, more secular than you crowd..

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 05 Dec 2013 05:32

geeth wrote:We all know how much effort was required to convert just ONE hard ore kongi supporter in this forum to take a neutral position.

Who is that?

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 05 Dec 2013 05:35

Dr Harshvardhan sounded quite confident of NDTV y'day. (I know, mea culpa, moi watching rrNDTV and all but TimesNow was insufferable with a constant barrage of yelling going on).

Dr HV clearly stated - delibrately and not just for pretence or effect - that his network and sources say the mandate will be clear and it will be for BJP. I'd really like to share his confidence/optimism. Only.

sudarshan · Post by **sudarshan** » 05 Dec 2013 06:20

If only I could follow the voice in my head and stay away from this thread for three more days till counting starts. But what to do onlee. Yeh dil maange BR.

KJo · Post by **KJo** » 05 Dec 2013 06:43

geeth wrote:We all know how much effort was required to convert just ONE hard ore kongi supporter in this forum to take a neutral position. Imagine the difficulty in converting thousands of them with same pedigree..why blame BJP when we know the truth that they may be brainy, but lack in common sense.

geeth, it's not as hard as you think. The BJP needs to make patriotism and nationalism cool. It needs to make Hinduism cool. That's what Amreekis and EJs do, they make Umreeka cool, they make Jesus cool. It is all marketing. Or brainwashing.

Remember how cool it was to be Indian about 10 years ago when India was "shining"? Everyone wanted to R2I. My relatives told me how India was going overtake Umreeka. India was marketed well and there was something tangible to back it up.

KLP Dubey · Post by **KLP Dubey** » 05 Dec 2013 07:39

I don't understand why everyone is already predicting doom and gloom just because the voting % is high. Not to worry, the party will for sure make it a 4-0 sweep. The anti-nationals, communists, caste-based parties, etc will take a beating. Kejriwal, Kumar Vishwas etc will become jhaadoo-maar, dhobi etc in Dr. Harshvardhan's house.

Namaskar
Kl Dubey

subhamoy.das · Post by **subhamoy.das** » 05 Dec 2013 07:40

The thing which will make Bharat cool again is massive physical and social infrasrtucture coming up in the coming years spwaing jobs and economic growth for amm admi. Add to that the presence of a agrressive and nationalist leadership with pan India appeal with a motto of India first. A dream has to float again. 10 years ago these were the reasons why India was shinnng in eyes of many, including mine and I did a RTI. NAMO will bring in that era again - the era of the "Indian Dream". He is the dream merchant and youths of the country will surey give him the chance in 2014. No doubts in my mind. And this 5-0 drubbing is nothing but a strong message that "we will get NAMO to Delhi in 2014".

KLP Dubey · Post by **KLP Dubey** » 05 Dec 2013 07:49

subhamoy.das wrote:He is the dream merchant

Wah! Sapnon ka saudagar.

Ironically, Antonia Maino - who is rapidly approaching death's door (many would argue, a little too slowly) - will need a "maut ka saudagar" to buy her some time.

sudarshan · Post by **sudarshan** » 05 Dec 2013 07:57

Ah-ha! Perfect moniker for NaMo - Sapnon ka saudagar. Congrats to you both, Das & Dubey ji's. Pliss to propagate onlee.

vic · Post by **vic** » 05 Dec 2013 08:05

The rise of AAP is clearly due to BJP Dilli Billis colluding with and going soft on Dynasty.

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 05 Dec 2013 08:13

The greatest farce is Kujliwal does not even make a single statement on SOnia's wealth but keeps taking shots at BJP. Looks like they will contest 300 seats. Can they steal enough youth vote to screw Modi's plans?

subhamoy.das · Post by **subhamoy.das** » 05 Dec 2013 08:24

Kujliwal does not have the CHARISMA of NAMO by the widest margin. It was Anna - under whose hallo - he grew up. Picture this. The BJP ship is blazzing all guns and the Congress ship is about to go under as it has gaping holes in its hull and taking huge amount of sea water. Kujliwal, the pirate, apprears from now where, and starts to shiffon off the khazana on the ship only to realize that NAMO has already transfered lion portion of the khazana to his ship and has set sail for the port for a Hero's welcome.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 05 Dec 2013 09:09

Hari Seldon wrote:Dr Harshvardhan sounded quite confident of NDTV y'day. (I know, mea culpa, moi watching rrNDTV and all but TimesNow was insufferable with a constant barrage of yelling going on).

Dr HV clearly stated - delibrately and not just for pretence or effect - that his network and sources say the mandate will be clear and it will be for BJP. I'd really like to share his confidence/optimism. Only.

He looked grim on Headlines Today. He made Chandan Mitra look aggressive and spectacular.

maybe Chandan senses success, and success breeds strength. He was pointing out that HV is soft spoken person and not very exhuberant.

niran · Post by **niran** » 05 Dec 2013 09:12

since moi made me leanings open flies from the congress side of the walls have stopped their whisperings,
so this is onree one side report

last evening by closing time Dilli had around 66% voters exercising their rights, then around 40 minutes to closing time there came a rallying cry
from cadres of bhajapa and basapa (yeah!yeah! i known ye all did not know basapa is contesting too) and most surprisingly SAD, apparently
the turbaned biraderhood had been lazy to move their arses, this resulted in around 200000(ain't a typo) voters queuing up in 800 voting booths before 1700 hours closing time, forcing EC to extend voting to 2130 hours and then in 7 booths to 2200 hours by then no one was left manning the trenches to tabulate the voting percentage, it was 8 degree centigrade yesterday nite in Dilli and who would like to be out in the cold? except those enthusiastic voters of course.
wat happened to Congress and AAP? the natural question
congress had already tucked tail their cadres sipping chai(no pun intended) in their respective enclaves
in AAP HQ there were very many voters complaining about erros in voting list, dunno why they were there in place of the asli complaint desk
AAP were seen balloning in pride tabulating the votes in their kitty by the time they heard of the rallying cry it was too late and AAp had their rug pulled from under their feet, since it is eggjit polls bonaza, let me present one from the under ground
CG== BJP=52 seats
Dilli==BJP=51 seats
MP==BJP=148 seats
Raj==BJP=150 seats
Mizo== hung assembly with congrss no more than 19 seats.

KJo · Post by **KJo** » 05 Dec 2013 09:23

KLP Dubey wrote:I don't understand why everyone is already predicting doom and gloom just because the voting % is high. Not to worry, the party will for sure make it a 4-0 sweep. The anti-nationals, communists, caste-based parties, etc will take a beating. Kejriwal, Kumar Vishwas etc will become jhaadoo-maar, dhobi etc in Dr. Harshvardhan's house.

Namaskar
Kl Dubey

I think high turnout is good for NaMo. People turn out when there is a motivating factor they are responding to. I think the factor is NaMo at a central level and Khujli-baal in Dilli.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 05 Dec 2013 09:35

KJoishy wrote:
KLP Dubey wrote:I don't understand why everyone is already predicting doom and gloom just because the voting % is high. Not to worry, the party will for sure make it a 4-0 sweep. The anti-nationals, communists, caste-based parties, etc will take a beating. Kejriwal, Kumar Vishwas etc will become jhaadoo-maar, dhobi etc in Dr. Harshvardhan's house.

Namaskar
Kl Dubey
I think high turnout is good for NaMo. People turn out when there is a motivating factor they are responding to. I think the factor is NaMo at a central level and Khujli-baal in Dilli.

The late surge says it was cadre driven, saar. AAP does not have enough of a cadre to make such a difference. Their dedicated cadre, while fanatical, is still limited in number. The only parties that have enough of a cadre for a late afternoon surge are the Congress, and the BJP. If the Congress did a late surge, we would be hearing about it by now. This surge was more likely led by the BJP.

There is another possible explanation. The cadre of BJP, BSP and AAP all contributed to the late surge, in which case, we cannot arrive at many conclusions.

But, I am hopeful that the late surges we are seeing in all elections in these Assembly elections were caused by a motivated cadre (and this cadre all over the four states belonged to the BJP).

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 05 Dec 2013 09:37

Gus wrote:if so-called yuppies are indeed shallow as they are projected to be, then it should also be easy to get them to bjp camp, no?derogatorily calling/grouping people who bjp failed to get into their camp just comes across as a case of sour grapes.

+100

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 05 Dec 2013 10:00

RajeshA wrote: Here the problem is indeed one of image, where "Western modernity" in India has forced everything Bharatiya to look "uncool"! Change in this perception is a mid-term plan! However good looking young ladies in one's political corner always help in selling one's politics as well. That is where I think ABVP can concentrate, especially using the issue of women's security.

Please don't pass such ungratuitous remarks about people just because they did not vote for your favorite political party.

If the political party and its apparatus (which includes ABVP) cannot identify with the aspirations of people and clearly deliver a message, then the fault lies with the party and not people. It is all very nice and dandy to talk about 'dharma' and 'Bhartiyata' on an internet forum and talk big - but all this amounts to zilch if the political party cannot ensure that the drain outside my house is covered and I get regular water supply.

Why do you think the social media is filled with supporters of NM who don't necessarily identify with BJP? Why are these English speaking and people with 'western' modern outlook supporting Modi? Why is the BJP expected to do well in urban areas? It is because these people have a stake in the development and they can see first hand the effects of corruption, misgovernance and indecision. They want better lives for themselves and their children. And they somehow feel BJP can do that.

The people who voted for AAP also have similar aspirations and feel they can deliver the goods. If the person can come in, set-up a party out of scratch and go on to win 10-15 seats (conservatively speaking) all within a matter of one-year, than he must have done something right. Whether he is able to deliver or not remains to be seen. But if he delivers a message which hits home to an extent that people come out to vote especially for him, then he has done something which BJP failed to do.

If the co called 'kool-aid' drunk crowd actually moves it butt and comes out to vote in favor of what they see as a viable alternative, it simply goes to show that this 'good-for-nothing' bunch also has aspirations. And believes in something. And if it sees these aspirations being filled (or promises made to the effect), it will vote. And vote in a manner so as to make an impact.

Let me give you a small anecdote:

My maternal family has been staunchly pro-BJP. And in every election has done lot of ground work for BJP. In fact, most of my maternal village WAS pro-BJP. But you know what they did in last state elections? They revolted almost enmasse against sitting BJP CANDIDATE - because he was found to completely aloof to people's requirement save for the community he came from. The whole village (and it is a pretty big and influential village) voted for a Congress candidate. And the tragedy was that this Congress was fielded from outside the area.

Long story short - just calling oneself 'Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad' will not get people's vote. You need to work for same. And ensure you deliver the right message.

Virendra · Post by **Virendra** » 05 Dec 2013 10:02

About Delhi, the reason why Kejri and his army are attacking BJP is that Congress is a sinking ship anyway.
Nobody is thinking of voting for them. Now the bulk of votes in this election are in "Not-Congress" and "We need change" category. It is this pie that BJP and AAP will fight for.
If AAP has to have a good share in this pie, the same anti-Congress rona dhona won't work. Because the people are already anti-Congress and anti-incumbency in Delhi .. and BJP is the major national party as an alternative to Congress. AAP will end up as redundant.
It is only when they attack BJP vigorously, that AAP will have a good vote share in the freshly released pie. Barking at Congress is not going to have that much vote effect for them.
Because Congress doesn't have incoming votes in this election. It only has outgoings. You don't loot a freshly impoverished person. You loot one who is getting wealth.
Who catches how many of these outgoings is the real game.

Regards,
Virendra

member_23365 · Post by **member_23365** » 05 Dec 2013 10:11

If BJP loses Delhi, you can’t blame it on AAP ka PAAP. They should have worked on it earlier. Harshvardhan should have been promoted earlier or better SS should have been given responsibility to win the Delhi for BJP.
I like to share incident. During the height of Anna movement there was a by-election in Hissar(Haryana).
Hissar is Kejriwals hometown. Kejriwal was campaigning for Kuldeep Bishnoi in that election. He went to a village Uklana Mandi and started his anti-corruption spiel “don’t vote for Congress, teach them a lesson” and “Vote for Kuldeep”. Dehati folks called his bluff right there and took out their latthis and with full Maa Bhen went after him. Kejriwal has to run to save his life. Dehati folks counter question “ On one hand your fighting against corruption and on other hand you wanted us to vote for one of the most corrupt leaders. Bhajanlal is considered as initiator of street level corruption by Chief Minister in Haryana,like taking bribe for employment, transfers and asking for monthly from government dept. like monthly from SP, Pwd Xen, Detc to name a few.
From my personal experience, I think in city kids while growing up are not close to reality they grow up in some kind of fantasy world. While in village kids are very close to reality. For eg my cousins(grew up in village) are far better in understanding human behavior than myself. They have to work in fields, tend to cattle’s and then go to school. They have witnessed life events like births and deaths very closely as a village in itself is a big family so kids from very early age go to funeral procession and watch the dead body burning in samshan. There are lot of extracurricular things which goes on in village. If there is mantri coming to village, all kids will be at gathering. If there is any social gathering or panchayat again kids will be there for sure. They will listen to arguments and counter arguments. While in cities kids like me just go to school come home, play with street kids or go to tuition, study hard for PMT or JEE sleep 4 hrs. wakes up again study hard and go to school and same thing again. Kids in city have very limited social interaction and Bollywood seems to be close to reality to them. During college days everyone is busy to get a girlfriend. So when someone like Kejriwal comes with rhetoric’s they find it amusing and see him as a savior.
Earlier I was of view that AAP won’t be making any impact but after watching debates and thinking over the issue I came to conclusion that city folks are more gullible and buy dreams rather than giving a logical thought about the things.

Arjun · Post by **Arjun** » 05 Dec 2013 10:13

rohitvats wrote:
RajeshA wrote: Here the problem is indeed one of image, where "Western modernity" in India has forced everything Bharatiya to look "uncool"! Change in this perception is a mid-term plan! However good looking young ladies in one's political corner always help in selling one's politics as well. That is where I think ABVP can concentrate, especially using the issue of women's security.
Please don't pass such ungratuitous remarks about people just because they did not vote for your favorite political party.

Fail to see what was ungratuitous about RajeshA's remarks. His suggestion seems quite constructive...Agree with the rest of your post though.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 05 Dec 2013 10:19

i think AAP should win in delhi so that people can see their true colors

Santosh · Post by **Santosh** » 05 Dec 2013 10:26

rohitvats wrote:If the person can come in, set-up a party out of scratch and go on to win 10-15 seats (conservatively speaking) all within a matter of one-year, than he must have done something right. Whether he is able to deliver or not remains to be seen. But if he delivers a message which hits home to an extent that people come out to vote especially for him, then he has done something which BJP failed to do.

rohitvats ji, Kejriwal has not done anything from scratch. Everything was done for him. He and Agnivesh were congi mole in Anna's anti-corruption jan lokpal movement. Anna eventually realized this and ended his fast and that sort of ended his movement. Kejriwal then kabjafied Anna's legacy and started AAP. He was fully supported by Congi and paid media at that time. The fact that urban hippie youngsters are fanatical about him basically tells us that urban youngsters do not have the understanding of Indian policitcs as much. They just go by simple messaging and AAP really kept it simple. AAP = anti-corruption. That's it. Completely agree about your other statement on choosing he right candidate. That is very critical specially in local body and state elections.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 05 Dec 2013 10:28

rohitvats wrote: The people who voted for AAP also have similar aspirations and feel they can deliver the goods. If the person can come in, set-up a party out of scratch and go on to win 10-15 seats (conservatively speaking) all within a matter of one-year, than he must have done something right. Whether he is able to deliver or not remains to be seen. But if he delivers a message which hits home to an extent that people come out to vote especially for him, then he has done something which BJP failed to do.

If the co called 'kool-aid' drunk crowd actually moves it butt and comes out to vote in favor of what they see as a viable alternative, it simply goes to show that this 'good-for-nothing' bunch also has aspirations. And believes in something. And if it sees these aspirations being filled (or promises made to the effect), it will vote. And vote in a manner so as to make an impact.

I don't know if the Kejriwal fan club is kool-aid drunk or whatever else, but there is a huge disenchantment with all the existing political parties. The vote going to Kejriwal is more a sign of protest against the BJP and the Congress than any genuine fondness for Kejriwal or his policies - and he is promising to end all corruption. Many of those voting for Kejriwal don't even know who the AAP candidate is. There is a feeling that both national parties have failed the people's expectations. It is not so much that Kejriwal is doing right - he is just tapping into the frustration of the youth. It is more the case that the BJP (and Congress) is doing a lot wrong. Until NaMo came on the scene, there was no one in the BJP leadership worth following. Until Harshvardhan came on the scene a month ago, there was no one worth following in the Delhi BJP. It is into this anarchy that Kejriwal stepped in (that he is himself an anarchist stepping in to try to take the crown in an anarchy is but one of life's bitter ironies). What the youth is saying is that they expect more from the national parties, and it is a truism that the average BJP voter demands a lot more from his MLA/MP/government than the average Congress voter does. Also, Kejriwal's seeming idealism is appealing to younger people (we older folk are a bit too hardened and cynical - we saw the older version of Kejriwal (V P Singh) 25 years ago and we are a bit harder to convince with a campaign against corruption now). And when the national parties fail to deliver, people are trying other alternatives like Kejriwal. It is people going to a quack when all doctors have failed to cure a disease. If BJP gets majority and starts doing things right, the Kejriwals will disappear without a trace. Kejriwal is a symptom of frustration and disillusionment among younger voters, and a hope of change which they see in the idealism he professes. At least, this is my diagnosis.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 05 Dec 2013 10:31

Arjun wrote: Fail to see what was ungratuitous about RajeshA's remarks. His suggestion seems quite constructive...Agree with the rest of your post though.

To ascribe preconceived definition(s) to people w/o bothering to do a reality check.

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 05 Dec 2013 10:32

Is there a site that provides the poll of polls and the breakdown of exit poll predictions? Want to understand the spread.

vic · Post by **vic** » 05 Dec 2013 10:41

I hope AAP contests all 545 Lok Sabha seats to shake up the Cosy relationship of Kangress Dy-nasty and BJP Dilli Billis. A shock to BJP in Delhi is also required to tell BJP potatoes that they cannot play on TINA and need to shake off their slought as also retire all 80+ years old leaders.

sudarshan · Post by **sudarshan** » 05 Dec 2013 10:45

rohitvats wrote:If the person can come in, set-up a party out of scratch and go on to win 10-15 seats (conservatively speaking) all within a matter of one-year, than he must have done something right. Whether he is able to deliver or not remains to be seen. But if he delivers a message which hits home to an extent that people come out to vote especially for him, then he has done something which BJP failed to do.

"You can fool some of the people some of the time, you can even fool all of the people some of the time. You cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

This might seem like a very encouraging statement, but the fact is, AAP's mandate is to achieve point one of the above, and maybe point two. AAP is not bothered with point 3 (fooling all the people all the time). If point 1 (fooling some people some of the time) is done, they are perfectly happy, since that will play spoiler in Delhi long enough for congi to hopefully regroup. Politics is the art of the possible - and it is perfectly possible to fool some of the people some of the time.

Desperate people opt for short-term measures. It might be postponing the inevitable, but they don't care.

Delhi loses five years, India loses five years. Maybe Delhi and India emerge stronger and wiser - or maybe the five years that are gained by congi are enough for them to further implement their agenda.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 05 Dec 2013 10:45

Santosh wrote: rohitvats ji, Kejriwal has not done anything from scratch. Everything was done for him. He and Agnivesh were congi mole in Anna's anti-corruption jan lokpal movement. Anna eventually realized this and ended his fast and that sort of ended his movement. Kejriwal then kabjafied Anna's legacy and started AAP. He was fully supported by Congi and paid media at that time. The fact that urban hippie youngsters are fanatical about him basically tells us that urban youngsters do not have the understanding of Indian politcs as much. They just go by simple messaging and AAP really kept it simple. AAP = anti-corruption. That's it. Completely agree about your other statement on choosing he right candidate. That is very critical specially in local body and state elections.

It is this labeling of people as 'urban hippie youngsters' that I have a serious issue with.

Now, tell me this - What prevented BJP from sending out a 'simple' message like BJP=Development=anti-corruption? And why are these urban youngsters 'hippie' and 'naive' only when they vote for AAP and not BJP? Are those voting for BJP from different strata of society or somehow more tuned into Indian politics and more mature?

Why were we (including yours truly) on this forum rooting for Narendra Modi as PM candidate? Why is the BJP expected to do well under him by garnering votes from the youth and urban areas (I'm deliberately leaving out rural areas)?

The problem is that of reaching out to people - and making them understand your message and your genuineness in implementing the same. And your message cannot be at cross-purpose to aspirations of the people. NM does both. That is why we identify with him.

If people identify with a new-comer like Kejriwal and are willing to go the extra mile for him (and his message) hoping it will usher change, then it shows that there is a constituency out there which needs to be tapped. And listened to. And their issues addressed.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 05 Dec 2013 10:47

nageshks wrote:I don't know if the Kejriwal fan club is kool-aid drunk or whatever else, but there is a huge disenchantment with all the existing political parties. The vote going to Kejriwal is more a sign of protest against the BJP and the Congress than any genuine fondness for Kejriwal or his policies - and he is promising to end all corruption. Many of those voting for Kejriwal don't even know who the AAP candidate is. There is a feeling that both national parties have failed the people's expectations. It is not so much that Kejriwal is doing right - he is just tapping into the frustration of the youth. It is more the case that the BJP (and Congress) is doing a lot wrong. Until NaMo came on the scene, there was no one in the BJP leadership worth following. Until Harshvardhan came on the scene a month ago, there was no one worth following in the Delhi BJP. It is into this anarchy that Kejriwal stepped in (that he is himself an anarchist stepping in to try to take the crown in an anarchy is but one of life's bitter ironies). What the youth is saying is that they expect more from the national parties, and it is a truism that the average BJP voter demands a lot more from his MLA/MP/government than the average Congress voter does. Also, Kejriwal's seeming idealism is appealing to younger people (we older folk are a bit too hardened and cynical - we saw the older version of Kejriwal (V P Singh) 25 years ago and we are a bit harder to convince with a campaign against corruption now). And when the national parties fail to deliver, people are trying other alternatives like Kejriwal. It is people going to a quack when all doctors have failed to cure a disease. If BJP gets majority and starts doing things right, the Kejriwals will disappear without a trace. Kejriwal is a symptom of frustration and disillusionment among younger voters, and a hope of change which they see in the idealism he professes. At least, this is my diagnosis.

Thank you for putting that out so eloquently.