Jumping the Gun

The IPL can sit back and enjoy another show now. One much more gripping than itself

- The Great Indian Poll Results.

While trends in the first hour suggest disappointment for Lauh Purush Advani my heart goes out to 'the man who could not be PM'. Overshadowed by the more senior statesman in Vajpayee his career high point will now remain being the Deputy PM when in office and Leader of Opposition when out of it. For his dedication's sake I hoped he would be at helm this one time. But alas! Voters always have a different plan and how some live to rue it.

On the other hand the results which give 220 odd seats to UPA in terms of present leads will encourage Congress to woo new allies to take them past the 272 mark. Celebrations are already underway at 10 Janpath according to reports. It is easier to bargain from a position of strength and the smaller parties will now feel the heat of bargaining season. Though most of them stand to gain substantially yet repeated parleys might force them to tone down the demands pitch. What will be interesting to watch now is how and who joins in to make for the rest of the requisite 52. Will it be the big three from the cow-belt known for their selective reverence for Madam? Will it be a impaired Left who will "hold the hand" in happiness? Or will it be Nitish-'The Suitable Boy from Bihar'-Kumar who will secure his state's "special" status by offering support to the "outstretched hand"?

The picture will become clearer within an hour or two but whatever be the outcome the majority will heave a sigh of relief for a fractured mandate would have made the nation limp for five uncomfortable years. We will take anything but that with glee.

Nepotism Redefined

This might go down as a blatant display of
Bhai-bhatija-wad in India[link].

In his attempt to showcase Pan-American solidarity President Obama has unwittingly vindicated the ways of our political dynasties. Mulayam and Lalu may now go ahead and give party-tickets to all their kith and kin and then we run the risk of reconsidering delimitation i.e if 543 falls short in accomodating them all.

Their justification would be on these lines:

Would Mr. Obama ever come to Balia or Siwan to learn a square drive or two from Dada or Dhoni? Well, doesn't look like it, atleast in the near future. And why won't he do such a thing ? Is it because he associates India with hockey after looking at the Chak De! girls running around in shorts? Is it because the IPL is being played in South Africa, a mere 8000 Kms away from home ? Or is it his way of snubbing the ICC at refusing "The Michael Jordan of Cricket" legitimacy along with the ICL? None of the above. This is just a way of showing the world that "Black is Back". If Obama feels his fellow men need his support why should not we support our brothers of our caste and sub-caste. Let us see him dancing to the tune of any of Guddu Rangeela's music-videos and then we will know how global a leader he actually is. Let us see him call our Ravi Kishan "The Aur-land-wo Bloom of Bhojpuri Cinema" or Nagma "The Ebha Long-goriya of India" and we will know how much of India he has actually embraced. Till then we will keep sweeping Amrican "bouncers" of liberalism with the far reaching danda of our mass ignorance.

Humein mat sikhaon. Pehle apne aap ko sudharon.
Jai Hind.


link, photo: courtesy - rediff.com