Re: [Marxism] The 2009 Indian Elections

["Politicus E." <epoliticus@xxxxxxxxx>]

AA has claimed that the Indian National Congress has a "resounding
victory."  AA thereby repeats the line being held by the English
language Indian media, and the media in the Anglo-American zone.  No
evidence is provided to the comrades to substantiate this position.

To assert that Sonia Gandhi's Congress won a "resounding victory" runs
against the evidence.  The Congress system, as it existed prior to the
eighth Lok Sabha, is dead.  All informed & honest observers, Marxist
or not, must concede this point.  The death of the Congress system was
announced by the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi & the rise of the B.J.P
as a national party.  AA must be reminded, it seems, that the Congress
won 404 seats in the 1984 general election (out of 514 seats in
total);  in contrast, presently it is slated to win about 206 seats
(out of 543 in total).  Evidently, their victory is not very
"resounding."

In the interest of a a fair discussion, one must admit that the
present election outcome is the best performance of the Congress since
1991.  Yet this observation must be understood in the context of the
fact that voter turnout in the 2009 general election is predicted to
be the lowest since 1991.  Again, this outcome is no "resounding
victory" for the Congress, nor its coalition.  It must also be
admitted that the Congress is in a good position to form a government
(this was not all clear yesterday morning).  However, it is hardly
clear that they will be able to form a stable government.

Thoughts on the death of the CPI(M) will follow later in the evening.

epoliticus

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