The die is cast people with the election commission announcing a 5 phase poll from April 16th to May 13th and counting of votes on May 16th.
In addition to daily posts on developments in the election campaign Offstumped will have the following coverage.
#1 Track Instant Offstumped Reactions via Twitter, you can also subscribe to the Twitter XML feed. One of the features of Twitter is to distribute soundbites via SMS, consider subscribing to mobile phone updates if you can afford it. Nothing work best to spread the word around, than SMS.
#2 Today’s YouTube/Online Video Pick will highlight the most compelling election videos online. You can find them on the sidebar
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#4 Report Live/First Hand will be a place where Offstumped Readers in different parts of India can post first hand experiences and anecdotes from events that attend. Some of you have already done that from the recent Friends of BJP event featuring Arun Jaitley.
#5 Offstumped Current Projection will be this blogger’s take on the various projections by drive-by psephologists and will appear on the second side-bar.
#6 Offstumped on Scribd for background data from Election Commission and Press Information Bureau site for Elections 2009
An important part of the coverage will be “Rahul Gandhi Watch”.
There is a lot of debate on what this election ought to be.
Many voices of prudence believe this election was the BJP’s to lose and it didnt capitalize on the poor state of the economy and the bungling of internal seurity.
Many other voices in the Delhi based media believe this election is the Congress’ to win having pulled off a 5 year term.
This blogger has a different opinion.
Whether we like it or not we dont have a national election and we will not have one till either a single emotive issue dominates the election going-in or we opt for a second Republic to directly elect the Chief Executive.
In the absence of a single overriding national issue this will come down to a deeply personal and at some level emotional choice that every voter has to make.
This blogger has made his choice on the basic fundamental issue of values and Dharma.
We may debate endlessly on whether either of the parties has an economic model or a sound approach for security.
But there is one issue on which there is no ambiguity and the distinction is stark.
Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarni writing in his blog framed it very well saying its “Vanshbhogi versus Karma Yogi“.
The Congress has repeatedly demonstrate that it lacks basic values when it comes to ethics or Constitutionality – Pratibha Patil, Navin Chawla, Cash for Votes, Governor’s actions in Goa, Meghalaya and Jharkhand.
It is on this fundamental distinction that the Congress must be voted out if not anything else.
Filed under: CNN-IBN Boycott, Chattisgarh Polls 2008, Chhattisgarh Polls 2008, Constituent Assembly, Delhi Polls 2008, DesiPundit, Dharmayudh-2009, Gujarat Polls 2007, India Elections 2009, Karnataka Polls 2008, Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, Madhya Pradesh Polls 2008, Manmohan Confidence Vote, Offstumped on Twitter, Pratibha Patil, Rajasthan Polls 2008, betrayal of aam admi, jeetega-bharat, surveys
Do tapas to ensure that BJP wins otherwise India is ruined. In the last five years the UPA has undone everything the prior govts had built (including their own Narasimha Rao, who I believe is the best prime minister India ever had)
Looks like Chawla will ensure that the (s)elections go as ‘planned’…
WikiPedia page for Chawla..
March 2005, he was presented the Mazzini award by the Government of Italy “in recognition of his efforts to forge a new relationship with Italy and strengthening existing bonds”. 2005 : The Mazzini Award from the Government of Italy. 2005 : Award from the Institution of Directors, New Delhi on the 20th of August 2004.
Yossarin,
Good thoughts. However too much emphasis on ethics to distinguish constitutional propriety or ethics may not cut too much ice with congress supporters. The BJP in its years in politics also got involved in murky deals which were surely illegal (Bangaru laxman for example). I am a die hard BJP supporter, as I think the majority of the members are patriots and have loyalty to this country. They may take a commission in the process but will not grievously harm the country. The congress, i am convinced are anti-national and no longer hold allegiance to the idea of a strong India. What needs to be highlighted is the corruption of 70k crores that even the CAG has washed its hands over, the rabid increase of conversions and support it receives at the official level, and the absolute apathy to internal security and anything that is hindu.
yossarin,
I understand MMS is night watchman and Rahul gandhi will take over if congress by chance gets elected. But why are we focusing so much on him right now?? Is this election about Rahul Vs Advani?? or is this election about BJP Vs Congress?? I think we should make hit at congress.
This is most likely to be a hung parliament, leading to another 5 wasted years, with india muddling through the downturn. This will reduce millions more to poverty, as palavers like ‘gandhian economics’ and ‘nehruvian restraint’ are thrown around.
The prime culprits for this state of affairs are hindus, who in general, are too stupid to understand what is good for them.
Personally, I feel BJP will get anywhere between 160 to 180. Congress anywhere between 110 to 130. I think BJP will have to cobble up other alliances after election to form government.
If the election is won by the same kaangressis, then we can expect more Hindu tarnishing, Minority appeasement, more Hindu temple money will be used.
evangalisation of Bharath , more and more terrorist attacks,and still they will say Bharath Muslims are poorMahesh butt, syed jaffri, sharukh khan will spill their secular “bhashans” even KJ Yesudas & A.r.rahman is used for the seuclar “Bhashan” nowadays, Bharath will be under mughal rules again,
Only GOD can save Bharath from Kangressi Rakshasas!
We all should pray daily for our Great country.
Gujjuman, Venkatesh – you are right there are many defining issues and we will focus them thru the season, this was about my personal favorite
for my choice.
Congi rogues like Navin Chawla running this election makes it an hopeless situation for BJP. I fail to understand why BJP is still not knocking the doors of SC or atleast protest against Navin Chawla.
Media and it’s final assaults just before elections
Money and Govt. machinery Power
Minority tactical bulk voting
Maya and co. small parties
urban voters’ complacency
Naveen Chawla
and as a final frontier the housemaid president will make sure BJP will stay off the limits from power. The picture looks very very scary and from here.
Nishka,
Pls don’t spread lies and rumours. AP still has xtian pop at 4%. In fact with the recent surge in GDP, people have started reconverting to Hinduism. Conversion to xtianity is reversible. It needs economic growth and stimulus to Hindu pride.
Muslims on the other hand are a very different ballgame.
@Yossarin
How does one counter Prem Panicker’s arguments and post on his blog [the link to which I posted in the comment section of your last post on Modi]?
http://www.prempanicker.com/index.php?/site/shame/
Z – Saw that from Prem Panicker, I would say ignore him for now. There is far too much happening to allow the likes of him to become a distraction.
Nishka – pls avoid xtian conspiracy theories its not helpful to the larger debate.
Yoss,
These are hardly conspiracy theories and you know that. The article I posted was from Expressbuzz with the Andhra Christian council stating that the christian population is 19%. Why would you delete that? It was hardly one persons opinion.
Additionally, this demographic shift does come into play in the elections. There is a reason why Sonia launched the election campaign from Andhra and from the look of it – YSR will get it
Yoss,
You are quite a Dharmik bloke!! Looking for dharma in politicians! An idealist in politics or in the ring side of politics. Keep it up mate. dont forget to look up arthashastra though, it may be helpful. I of course respect your personal choice and it is of course your blog!!
bTW, it is SS and BJP in maharashtra. Looks like now the seats have been agreed, it is back to being friends!!! Dharmik politics uhh!!
Venkatesh,,
Being pragmatic, I will say its stupid to focus on Xtain issues (whose authenticity is doubtful) when we have more alarming and genuine issues to deal with. I firmly believe that sticking to dharma is only way to maintain long term viability (rather it ensures much more than it). So, I personally practice it in life (which requires dealing with all like of double standards, political correctness etc etc), I find it works perfectly well.
This is one of the comments on ibnlive posted by one user on MH.
“We did a sample survey in Maharashtra as part of market survey for a soon to be launched newspaper. Unfortunately we found your results for Maharashtra to be diametrically opposed to our survey.
1) We Found BJP-Shivsena well positioned to get close to 34 seats.
2) NCP is still retaining its dominance in Western Maharashtra but the patronage network is in serious threat for the first time.
3) In our survey Narendra Modi was the most popular politician and especially amongst Marathas and other uppercastes and OBCs. None in the congress or NCP came even close to him in popularity.
Taking these facts into consideration and if rest of your survey holds good NDA should be slightly ahead of 200-210 and UPA in position of NDA.
Let us wait for April May 2009 to see who is right.”
Folks
I am amazed. We continue to be like ostriches.
Quoting recent events – after what happened in East Timor, South Korea, China, South East Asia and in North East India (Nagaland etc), we still continue to believe that the xtain movement is not a threat to our national integrity.
Do you think that a dharmic party (with overarching national interest) will ever win in those North Eastern states, and now Andhra? Don’t you realize that a SOnia led COngress (however, anti national they might be) will be the party of choice for them. While the media does not report it, do you know of the slew of seperatist movements in North East India driven by the conversions?
Yoss, don’t delete this. I rest my case now. This gandhi inspired – see no problem, hear no problem, speak no problem will be the bane of India
@Yossarin and others
If we can ensure that more voters vote this time, then we can make some difference. For this to happen, why don’t we put the following in our Blogs, Status messages in Yahoo, GMail, Orkut and Fecbook accounts- http://www.jaagore.com/main.php
This will strengthen democracy in our own little way.
@drummasala
The findings of the survey you mentioned, vis-a-vis NaMo and M’rastra are very accurate.
I have yet to meet anyone from the state that does not support NaMo as much as the average Gujarati.
He is everything the Shiv Sena should have, could have been. But fell way short.
Besides, with even Pramod Mahajan coming up short on the integrity scale, the average M’rastrian is craving a strong leader with spine of steel.
NaMo has walked right into that vacum.
I agree with you. M’rastra is the wild card in this pack. I think 34 for the combine is within reach with the BJP gathering the major chunk.
Also, look at the response NaMo’s rallies are garnering across M’rastra.
My only concern is the disgust the typical Hindutva supporter in M’rastra has with the Shiv Sena.
Lets hope NaMo can tide over even that.
how are the things in kerala?? last time congress didnt win single seat there,, there could be major gains for congress in kerala.
I am from Maharashtra and I can tell that it’s no cake walk for BJP. The caste equations of my state is “well-formed”. In other words, Maratha-Dalit-Muslim combi ensures that BJP will not win. BJP has not made any efforts to break that trio.
There are some like Prakash Ambedkar who could have come handy, but BJP is not smart enough to rope him in. BJP could also have tried getting Mayawati in, back door to try to break the Dalit stronghold in Mah.
It’s advantage Congress for sure, unless they blow up. Their biggest weapon is the overwhelmingly biased Media. The Media+Muslim combination is lethal. They have a stranglehold over BJP and Congress has effectively used it to check-mate NDA all these years. It will continue to grow stronger unless general public can see through this power sharing.
Unless BJP can find a way around this combination, it’s thin pickings. It’s terror plank for example has been neutralized by NDTV.IBN and Co effectively thanks to grand partnership with 10 Janpath.
in fact I am thinking even Gujarat will be a prob. It will be 50:50 most likely. Also NDA will loose some of Bihar and Lalu will reach 30+ adding more nuisance to Central Govt.
Looks like Congress 180+ and BJP 95+
Be prepared for another 5 yrs of the Italian mafio, unfortunately.
kautenya
which world are you talking about??
Gujarat 50:50 haha!! i will bet 23:3 at most.
http://beta.esakal.com/2009/03/03000437/thakarey-meet-pawar-instaed-of.html
Here is the link from esakal. Today Bal Thakre refused to meet Modi ..but met Pawar. This balu has gone nuts. He needs to rest and hand over the party to Uddhav. It is good in one way. If SS goes with NCP..they are doomed.
Kaunteya,
Are you real Sirdesai?? You said you are maharashtrian and gave the seats to congress just like sirdesai. So thats why I thought you are sirdesai.
As much as I do not care for the Congress triumverate of Sonia-Rahul-Manmohan, I hope that BJP keeps away from personal attacks on any of them simply because such attacks won’t go well with average voter and will do NET more damage to BJP’s chances. THe focus, I hope stays on bread & butter issues adn not on personalities. I am sure Congress will try to attack LKA & NaMO hoping to instigate them.
I really want to appeal to ALL readers here to start posting links to the blogs of anti-BJP bloggers here and then we need to start participating on those blogs. Most readers of this blog are already pro-BJP to begin with.
It is time to take the ball to the other side of the court.
Dhananjay – Great suggestion lead on with the charge.
Have you tried sepia mutiny? Those bhajias are celebrating Slumdog and Bobby Jindal as some sort of a grand arrival on the world stage. bachao. They could be candidates for what Dhananjay is saying
@yoss,
Clearly speaking congress has done everything to increase reservation in all aspects to gain votes and it failed to understand the mindset of middle class people who always suffers.
I think with the declaration of elections, we should expect to see things quickly churning into place. Already an announcement from Nitish Kumar supporting LK Advani, Sena-BJP set to seal a poll pact within the week, Ajit Singh signing the deal, the BJD-BJP formula almost worked out, and the AGP-BJP fight remaining only on one seat (Guwahati), the doom and gloom the MSM has gone all-out to promote in the NDA is overblown.
The allies that could switch teams afterward: NCP (As long as Pawar gets a nice post), JMM (Who knows what Guruji would demand), TRS, TDP, Praya Rajyam, LJP (Another one who wants to be minister), AIADMK, AITC, PMK, MDMK, SP (Yes, believe it!), and of course, BSP.
From the NDA side: RLD (If the NDA isn’t viable), BJD (Only if Naveen Patnaik gets an absolutely majority on his own and the NDA looks absolutely unviable, so unlikely), JD(U) and SAD require the BJP as life support, and the INLD and AGP need the BJP for any hope at power in Haryana (Early 2010) and Assam (Mid-2011).
I look forward to your analysis, Yossarin.
@Kaunteya
You must understand one equation about M’rastra – the last 10 years have seen governance come to a standstill.
Farmer suicides, job lossess, zero infrastructure development, etc.
Even with the drubbing the NDA received in 2004 the BJP-SS combine managed to gain 24 out of 48 seats. 50% with an anti-incumbency.
Given the hash the Congress/NCP govt. has made of M’rastra, look for atleast another 8-10 seats to slip into the BJP-SS ranks.
Why do you think Pawar created Raj Thackeray. If they were so confident of their caste equations, there would be no need to divide the Hindutva ranks.
Let me also point out another indicator. The BMC elections of 2007. SS won an absolute majority when most ‘pundits’ were predicting that election to be Uddhav Thackeray’s waterloo.
Finally, look at the way the Thackerays and SS are calling NaMo a ‘communalist’ that will cost them the muslim votes…..WTH, WTH.
WOW!
If the SS takes cover under pseudosecularism to fight NaMo, you know he’s having an effect.
Trust me, I’m from the same M’rastra. I have never seen such anger and disgust with the political class. And that is why NaMo is drawing the crowds he’s drawing. He represents every quality the typical, middle class m’rastrian craves for in his leader:
Fearless, courageous, visionary, a doer, perfectly non-corrupt, a no nonsense leader.
Every opposition election rally is drawing huge crowds. Even NaMo commented (pleasantly surprised) on the size of the crowd at dupiya.
Even Raj Thackeray is drawing huge crowds. He wont get much traction as he lacks the organization. The direct beneficairy will be the SS-BJP combine, if the old man Thackeray keeps his head and stops flirting with NCP.
BTW, NCP and SS are just trying to draw more of the share from their respective partners.
NCP would be destroyed if it joins hands with SS.
I say 34 seats for BJP-SS, give or take a couple.
Nishka, a 19% pop of xtianity is huge. It would have been easily noticeable. I don’t think you live in India, that’s why you can believe such nonsense.
Christianity is not magic. It does not convert people by millions overnight. I have seen the problem of xtianity myself coming from a tribal dominated area and Hindus aren’t as easy to convert as you make them out to be.
North East was converted over a period of 100+ years and even then only 3 states are xtian, most non-fundoo ( except Nagaland ). Most of the trouble there stems from the extreme poverty and stepmotherly treatment they have received from the rest of India, if you have any doubt, see the videos by Kiren Rajiju ( BJP MP from Arunachal ) in youtube.
@sc,
Check out express buzz
YOSS:
Thanks for your active encouragement:
Here are a few suggestions for blogs on which to participate actively:
http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/index.html – has listing of blogs hosted by Chordesai including his own:
http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/author/1/rajdeepsardesai.html – Instead of flaming about him elsewhere, let’s engage w/ him on is own turf.
http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/author/2394/abhishekmanusinghvi.html
Congress spokesperson
Quite a few blogs here:
http://blogs.indianmuslims.in/
There are a few from here that can be looked at:
http://www.desipundit.com/about-desipundit/
This is BigB’s blog w/ decent audience. He is not necessarily anti-BJP. Your opinions posted here can reach a wide audience.
http://bigb.bigadda.com/
Posting comments in response to YouTube videos can also be quite useful:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ndtv
http://www.youtube.com/user/timesnowonline
I am sure YOSS & many of you are better aware of other blogs. If so, please let us all know. May be some reader knows how to determine the “most traffic’d anti-BJP blogs
Some Suggestions:
1. Take screenshots of your comments on any of these bolgs before submitting your comments – the screenshot should capture the name of the blog as well). It may come handy later to show to others how there retards censor comments that do not suit their purpose).
2.Make your arguments w/o getting personal or abusive.
3. Stay focused on Congress & Left ONLY. Everyone else is a potential future partner. The goal I believe is to weaken these 2 the rest of the partys are details – as in NOT permanent opponents.
4. The issue here is NOT if each of the above blogs / YouTube channels is anti-BJP or not – the intent is to spread our message farther & wider toward the common man how is NOT necessarily an outright BJP / NDA supporter.
5. Best of all, send important blog articles, speeches etc. (as links or w/ text) to as many Indians as you can AND ask them to do the same.
This is Dharmayuddha guys. One hour spent doing this every day for the next 6-10 weeks will go a long way.
- Dhananjay
BJP should be prepared for the onslaught from NDTV and IBN. Have u guys seen the NDTV news in the last 4-5 days, giving wide coverage to ‘attacks on women’ and ‘how Bangalore is becoming unsafe for women’ and all that interviews with victims.
While I do sympathise with actual victims, what I am really amazed to see is that how come in the local newspapers, these issues are not even mentioned but NDTV is giving so much air time for this.
So, BJP should have some strategy to counter these pro congress TV wallas.
NRI’s (Citizens of India who are non-resident) are a major source of FDI. NRI’s should be allowed and in fact encouraged to vote.
All NRI’s please sign the petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/VOTENRI/petition.html
Most other countries encourage their non-resident citizens to vote. Singapore has recently expanded it and made it even easier than postal ballots — in New York there will be a polling booth for Overseas Singaporeans. Read about that (at least there is a healthy debate and progress!) at http://antineodem.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/relaxation-of-overseas-voting-fostering-participation-or-creating-pipedreams/
Please share this with your NRI friends.
Mpanj @ 33
http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4215162.cms
Seems like SS is behaving crazy. I initially believed that it was just the bargaining tactic by the SS, but now looking at Bal antiques it just seems like SS-NCP marriage is on cards.
OM..let the maha movement to bring back BJP to power begin !
1.Like Yossarin has his personal choice for ‘why vote BJP’, a lot of us will have our own reasons.Lets pool them together and see if we can find some ‘new’ or ‘innovative-way-of-saying’ points.
My reason:UPA rule has failed the country (aam admi) on all aspects.So, India bachao-Congress Ko bhagao !
2.NaMo effect is palpable not just in middle class, urban India, but in rural India as well.I have seen this in villages in AP, TN even.The more NaMo travels, the better it is for BJP.
3.I have a fair understanding of Maharashtra due to my earlier stay there and frequent travels and friends.There is some sympathy for Bal Thakre among senior voters, especially the traditional SS supporters.BJP is doing the right thing by using NaMO extensively.BJP should ideally get SS+MNS to support it as part of pre-poll alliance.MNS need not announce it openly, just an understanding during the last 3 days should do.Of course, this depends on the candidates put up by the Parties as well.Any thing less than 30 from Mah will be disappointing.
4.In some seats, BJP should encourage its voters in AP and TN to vote strategically -to defeat Congress in AP and Cong/DMK in TN.PRP will be ripe for last-minute poll understandings that need not be publicised beyond the local level. (Any of us who have seen elections first hand will know what I mean !).
5.To target students, professionals, and urban voters, we all need to start a veritable movement on the Net.Lots of ideas have been floated about this.Lets do that and more.
6.Central Govt employees seem to be extremely happy with the Pay Commission implementation and therefore, have a soft corner for MMS/UPA.BJP needs to evolve some tactical approaches to wean away these votes.Also, target teachers and NGOs (Non-Gazetted Officers) in States because these are the people who really run the elections in India.
(Actually, the 6th Pay Commission was due 2 years back.UPA deliberately delayed it till this year to take maximum advantage out of the goodwill.)
__________
Nishka – The truth regarding Xtian population in AP is that they are much more than the official 4% but less than the 19%; probably around 12-13% if we include all the converted folks who still retain their Hindu caste affiliations in the birth and caste certificates.
But if you think they are all voting for YSR, you may be mistaken.
Among the SCs in AP, Mala and Madiga are the two dominant castes, with a lot of Malas being Roman Catholics (in the Coastal belt), whereas CSI is more dominant in Rayalaseema Malas.The Madigas are mostly Hindu/Buddhist, and they are more in number in Telangana.With the MRPS (Madiga Rakshana Porata Samiti) attack on State Congress HQ at the same time as Sonia was addressing an insipid meeting few km away, things are in a turmoil.The Madigas are calling YSR a cheat and are vowing to align with other political forces to defeat Congress. (YSR promised to split SC quota so that Madigas get benefited equally compared to Malas and he didn’t do it).
BJP can bring its own Dalit leaders into the fray and get MRPS support.That could tilt a few Telangana seats actually.
Ok..Nishka, I hope I have assuaged your fears about AP becoming a Xtian domianted State.Nothing of that sort is gonna happen.Lets just focus on the elections now.
Breaking News:
http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2009/mar/03gunmen-attack-sri-lanka-cricketers-in-lahore.htm
Jihadi terrorists (GUn men, my foot !) attack SL cricketers..Kumar Sangakkara and Mendis among the injured ! Lets pray for their safety !
@Dhananjay,
I tried posting stuff on those blogs and everything gets censored. The Indian Muslims blog is a major Taquiyya affair. They had some rabid Kashmiri Muslim terrorist stating his case while they kept deleting my posts. Not sure if the blog is of any use. Muslims in India vote en bloc
>>ave u guys seen the NDTV news in the last 4-5 days, giving wide coverage to ‘attacks on women’ and ‘how Bangalore is becoming unsafe for women
It has been Congress’s strategy since Sonia’s induction to not dirty its hands directly with negative/smear campaigns. The job is outsourced to media and other partners. In the previous elections, for example, it funded Teesta Setalvad’s outfit to run a secularism-in-danger ad campaign. And Tejpal has been strategically bringing out a “sting” before every important election.
The latest stunt seems no different, and seems well-funded.
[...] Indian Media may have been premature in writing of Terror as an election issue. A terrorist attack on cricketers brings Terror back right into the drawing rooms of the Urban [...]
UPA is still depending on Pak to bring the perpetrators of 26/11. Pak cannot even protect a visiting sports squad and our leaders still want to depend on pak infrastructure to set things in place. Its time that international community acknowledge the fact that pak is a failed , Islamic terror state and as a sponsor of Islamic terror for decades it is no surprise that it is also a victim of terrorism. India should quickly divide pakistan now so that at least sind and balochistan get saved and there is a buffer on our north western border.
Folx:
Yesterday NaMo came to Thane, his first election campaign after the poll dates were announced.The crowd was massive spilling out on the roads. The maidan was full by the time NaMo cam which was around 8.45 pm. Before that Nitin Gadkari and Vinod Tawde BJP’s state executives spoke and spoke well.
NaMo came, saw and conquered.He thundered and the crowd applauded. Most impressing was he only spoke abt development and security. He compared statistics on electricity, jobs, agriculture between M’rashtra and Gujarat and kept hammering the point that it was the BJP ruled states that didnt see any farmer suicides compared to AP and here.
He took potshots at Shivraj Patil and Sharad Pawar.
After the meeting the crowd lined up near the barricades just to wave at him while he was leaving in his car. This sort of mania is reserved only for movie stars and cricketers in this country. Welcome to the club NaMo!
Dhananjay,
visit this site.
http://www.alexa.com/site/ds/top_sites?cc=IN&ts_mode=country&lang=none
You will find the top 100 most visited sites in India. Actually, in the side bar there is top 1 million sites visited, which you can download as a zip/excel file, updated everyday. You can find some indian sites by doing a simple search on this file though I never tried that. We can also post comments on popular sites like timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Another good thing is that, you will find lkadvani.in is listed in top 7000 most visited sites across the world and it is increasing everyday. One week back it was in 10000 and now it is in 7000.
Let us also discuss what is the impact of national media like NDTV, CNN-IBN on the voters and how that can be countered using the regional media. Let us divide the country in regions and see where the impact is most.
To begin with, are there any strong regional language media in states like Maha, AP, TN, Gujarat, Karnataka which is unbiased or against congress? As I belong to AP and now in Bangalore, I know most people in KA/AP follow regional media and at least 80% follow regional media. And among the regionals the popular ones ETV and to some extent TV9 gives good and unbiased news about BJP. It might be helpful to list down and ask the local media channels (through some means) to give more weight and visibility to BJP news and in that way BJP can gain some ground in AP, TN, Karnataka.
Most people even in urban areas in states like AP, TN, KA view regional language media more than English media except those who work for MNCs. In states like Maha/Gujarat I do not know to what extent English media advantage prevails and what strategy can counter them.Youth voters in urban areas can be influenced away from English media through means like mass SMS/Email debunking the credibility of the channels itself.
Apparently Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence has captured photos of LTTE terrorists with Vaiko (India politician).
See Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence website with photos:
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090301_02
Since LTTE is banned in India, political parties which associate with LTTE should be debarred from elections.
I am itching to go for the elec’s, I am so eager to go and cast my LOTUS vote.
However, the EC is goofing up big time (I sincerely hope un intentionally), about 2 to 300 people, I know of in my area are still awaiting final call from the EC to have their picture taken and so on to have their name appear on the rolls.
I am worried about this trend coz this will deny the mandate to the BJP.
Anybody, can you tell me, that till what time can EC summon voters to have their snaps taken,especially after elections have been declared?
Gujjuman,
I have to disagree on this with you and agree completely with Nishka. I dont think conversions are something that you can ignore. Last weeks I have been on the road in karnataka and AP, there are churches mushrooming evrerywhere. Check our Rajeev’s blog and see the amount of money that has been officially sent by missionaries. You may not think it is a big issue, but I certainly would agree with Nishka, that is indeed a problem. 9 percent, 19 percent population is not the issue. Most of the top brass of the congress are christians and chrypto christians. I think it is an important source of concern and I will vote for the BJP for this reason alone.
@venkatesh…..
>>>>>>Last weeks I have been on the road in karnataka and AP, there are churches mushrooming everywhere.
I agree with you. No way any kind of such activity must be allowed. Islam has lost its shine amongst the masses ( barring Kareena Kapoor types!!!!).
Xtianity must be the next in line to be thoroughly exposed, so that people do not convert more.
I agree that this is a very important issue for every Indian.
Guys….
Read this sycophancy:
“No clear favourites yet, but UPA takes early lead”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/No-clear-favourites-yet-but-UPA-takes-early-lead/articleshow/4215572.cms
I am discounting this as yet another attempt to fool voters, however, what if this is true?
Any thoughts?
Dhananjay@36
You may please include this site also. http://www.desiwonders.com
This site mainly concentrates on Indian news but appears to be non-partisan. Just visit this link.
http://www.desiwonders.com/india/hindi-channel-ibn7s-report-on-upas-vote-bank-politics/532/
The admin seems to be from AP since most news are related to that region.
Also, dont forget history. The catholics church arranged the King of a baltic state to be married to a Polish catholic. The king was then converted and then the entire baltics converted to christianity. See the parallels, the execution may be different. The church will use every trick in their book to keep their business booming. Remember there are a lot of souls to be harvested in India (said pope john paul not Nishka and I). We ignore history at our own peril. look at aouth korea in the recent past. Hinduism is sanatana and will last but that does not mean we sit and gawk and wait for lord krishna to come and save us.
@ Nishka, @Venkatesh
its true that lot of money is being spent on churches etc. Most of the money coming in for such activities are not even taxed as they are disguised as Charity.
Pejawar seer suggested that hence forth Hindus should ask politicians about what they’ll do for Hindus if they are elected.
Yossarin,
I had not heard of this tool coveritlive. i saw it for first time today. it says it can integrate twitter as well. Will using such a tool for this blog, make it better for you?
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-oscar-goes-to-cong-for-more-slums-modi/86694-37.html
Modi gives it back
Jai Ho
HI Nishka:
Thanks for trying to participate in some of the blogs. We can keep trying to participate in other blogs as well.
Anup -
Thanks for the link to the list. It will come in very handy.
I try to “cleanse” some articles on Wikipedia also.
[...] is precisely for this utter disregard for Constitutional Propriety over all else the UPA must be voted out. 04 Mar 2009 | Concerning Chattisgarh Polls 2008, [...]
Dear All
Here is one website I am not sure officially linked to congress party. Whatever I could see was zero comments in all of the postings.
http://www.congress4india.com/
[...] more than 48 hours since the election schedule has been announced for the 15th Lok Sabha. One is yet to see the electioneering heat up, its still [...]
Hi, I was just looking for info on the coming election and how I should go about my long term plans of participating after 5 years(cause i m 22).I chanced upon this and i have been continuously reading the opinions on this site or blog or whatever it is….i m just amazed at you people i think congress and bjp are both equally evil.The Congress should have been disbanded after its job was done (ie:Indian independence),this was the wish of even mahatma who believed in self governance and never wanted our country to be ruled by this party,the bjp on the other hand has gone to what i believe is extreme Hindu symbolism to capture votes and create a similar fan base.yes i wrote right A FAN BASE cause that is what all these parties just like film stars operate upon. A fan base of people who will mindlessly support you in whatever you do some for the entertainment value and some for just liking your face(aka rahul-your nemisis im sure).no one knows what absolute horror you are really capable of….any person who can be violent with any kind of minority voice; be it a husband on his wife,the US of America on some countries,the UK when they were in our country,the bjp in Gujarat,the congress after Indira died,Hitler on the Jews,and finally the loser boys on girls in mangalore banglaore delhi mumbai and elsewhere, is doing it only out of spite, resentment and an impotence to do anything ethical.they seriously underestimate their so called victims,one day the victim will be the victor and that day will come during my lifetime annd yours, i assure you….so i hope you will await me with bated breath in five years,cause im not a wimp like manmohan ,nor afflicted by foot in mouth disease like rahul and certainly not a violent bigot like narendra.watch out,im just a simple ordinary bangalore girl who has decided to eliminate the real pests scourging our country(Like naseeruddin in a wednesday).
I dont think you will have the guts to publish my post and i am sure you will prove right.
Puneeta,
I wish you all the best in your electoral ambitions. If you stand in bangalore south, I might even vote for you. I like your idealism, though you maybe a bit naive (at 22 that is your right). All the best, until then I vote for the BJP.
Yes, we need more people like you for the country! I will also vote if you stand in Bangalore south.
[...] the schedule for elections was announced earlier in March, Offstumped had said this about what this election must come to mean. We may debate endlessly on whether either of the parties has an economic model or a sound approach [...]