Exit polls predict a rout for the ruling party in India.

[Vehl]

The largest election in the world is over in India, and exit polls are out. The actual results are due on the 16th.

Based on the exit polls, it seems like the incumbent Congress party(which heads the UPA coalition) is headed for a rout by the BJP (which heads the NDA coalition of parties). This is major news for India, considering that the Congress party(and its coalitions) have ruled India for 58 out of its 64 years of existence!

The BJP candidate is Modi, who is from one of the lowest castes and worked as a child laborer ( sold tea in a train station as a youngster, to help his family eke out a living), later became the Chief minister of the state of Gujarat, and is now poised to become the Prime Minister of India.

Rahul Gandhi; the scion of the Gandhi dynasty (not to be confused with Mahatma Gandhi) and Modi's opponent, seems to be headed for a sure defeat. In stark contrast to Modi, Rahul Gandhi's father, grandmother, and great grandfather were all prime ministers of India; and he hails from a very powerful and wealthy family.

The Congress party has been known for huge scandals and corruption, and seems like it cost them this election. The youth, and the educated voters overwhelmingly chose BJP over congress, resulting in this (pending)landmark victory


I for one, am glad to see the end of dynastic politics in India.


Some links

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2626605/Modi-Capitals-gates-NDA-set-form-Indias-new-Government-UPA-heads-rout.html

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303851804579557984183819784?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303851804579557984183819784.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2626526/Congress-lose-ALL-Delhi-seats-poll-predicts-saffron-surge-Capital.html

[msongs]

1. As Uncle Joe used ta say, "It's not who votes, it's who COUNTS the votes." nt

[Recursion]

2. I'm not glad to see who's replacing the dynasty, though

Modi is a real piece of work...

[Vehl]

3. Kinda agree, but better than the incumbents imo

I liked the AAP party more, but some of their recent actions have me questioning their goal.

As for Modi, imo he is better than the ones in power atm. At least even his opponents don't accuse him of corruption, something truly rare in Indian politics where a considerable number of politicians are corrupt.

What really bugged me about the congress, apart from the corruption is the dynastic rule. One would imagine that in a land of a billion people they could give a chance to someone not from the Gandhi family; but without fail they always prop one of the scions up every generation. Also the constant pandering along caste, religious lines for "vote bank" politics is annoying to me, I'm like, "It's more than 60 years after independence and they are still using the same old tired lines...try something new"

[Recursion]

4. AAP seems to be having a decent showing, which may get them national status next time

I guess really that was AAP's only goal this election, though yeah they've made some boneheaded calls in recent weeks.

I did like Modi's chutzpah for appointing what's-his-name and issuing an "advance apology" for the things he was going to say...

[joshcryer]

5. IMO, while I don't like Modi either, sometimes you need a reset.

It may be bad, but democracy is finicky like that. Bush ushered in Obama, the most liberal President since Carter, and if I'm correct, the next president will be even more liberal, thanks to Bush's insanity, hell, if things go correctly, the next president after will be the most liberal president, ever (more so than even liberal hero FDR). But I'm talking decade long predictions here.

I just think that's a "feature" of democracy, so hopefully things work out for India. It will be a rough road though.

[BlindTiresias]

6. Lol

[joshcryer]

7. Uh huh.

Carter never came out for same-sex marriage.

[BlindTiresias]

8. Its more that

Most liberal since carter doesn't really mean that much.

Right wing domination seems to the the past, present, and future of this country. Death is certain.

[The Magistrate]

9. Indeed, Sir

[superstring1]

10. Dynastic politics, as you put it, aren't dead in USA

nm