Emphatic victory for BJP

With the Bharatiya Janata Party receiving mandate to rule India for a second five-year term, the curtains have come down on the most bitterly fought general elections in the history of independent India. The nation’s voters have delivered a decisive mandate, ignoring a concerted negative campaign by the opposition parties and sections of the media, branding the BJP as communal, anti-Dalit, anti-farmer, anti-people, corrupt, besides the song and dance over the Rafale deal. The verdict is also a clear message that Hindutva is here to stay and there is a price to pay for heaping abuses on Hindu religion and practices.

The opposition parties, for their part, need to be gracious in defeat, drawing the right lessons therefrom, instead of harping on ‘EVMs tampering facilitated by the ECI’, or inciting violence. As for the new government, it has its task cut out. While dealing with terrorists and anti-nationals with an iron hand, the leadership needs to ensure that the minorities feel safe in India, grievances of farmers are redressed in a timely fashion, job creation receives a fillip by promoting industrial activity and FDI, and there is a full stop to such barbaric acts as lynching of innocents in the name of cow vigilantism, etc.

It is not often that a political party receives a second term to rule, beating the anti-incumbency factor. It would be a tragedy if the BJP were to squander away such a god-sent opportunity.

Chennai

The Lok Sabha results are a pointer to the fact that many things went awry for the Congress. Negative narrative and false propaganda led to the Congress digging its own grave. We cannot take the common man for granted. Congress has reached a point of ‘no return’. The BJP displayed a strong sense of patience and endurance. The common man knows that all his needs cannot be fulfilled overnight but at least he expressed his appreciation by voting in the BJP, which had shown results in providing certain basic requirements. Now the BJP needs to do its home work seriously and complete all the unfinished tasks.

Bangalore

In true democratic spirit the BJP must be congratulated on winning the election, nay the mother of all elections, by a clear majority. But it need not hold us back from some straight talking. It is not quite simplistic to say that BJP’s emphatic victory is not just a triumph of nationalism (BJP fought the election primarily on the plank of nationalism), but of Hindu nationalism. The kind of victory the BJP won is a fitting tribute to the party’s extraordinary ability to tap religious identity to the hilt to its favour. The overarching appeal of Hindutva has proved to be undiminished and incomparably too strong for the Opposition to stall the BJP’s return to power. The ‘big gains’ made by the BJP, which is described as the ‘best organised national political force’ have brought out not just the party’s expanding geographical reach, but also Hindutva’s growing appeal in newer regions.

Maruthancode, TN

What a fantastic performance notwithstanding the acrimony generated during the campaign. The Lutyens and Khan Market gang is running for cover. In his quest for PM's post Chandrababu Naidu ran all over India only to lose in his own State. The Mahagathbandhan, a cocktail of misfits, could never fit the bill. The never-say-die spirit of the PM is a lesson for the upstarts who lusted for the top post. Congratulations to the NDA team for the sterling performance.

Pune

This is with reference to the article ‘Are acche din ahead for India Inc?’ (May 23). The youth of the nation are not interested in divisive politics. They want jobs and economic growth. In its second term, the Modi government must pay extra attention to farm distress and unemployment. An investment-friendly atmosphere should be created for the development of businesses and creation of jobs.

Thane

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