Indianomics!

I was surprised to know that Mumbai did not turned up for voting in full force. Terrorist Strikes, the financial melt downs and other events does not seem to bother an average Mumbaikar.  Infact the voter turnout was less by 3.5% as compared to the pervious General Elections.

Mumbaikars are known to love holidays and the since this is the longest weekend of year, people are tempted to go out for a holiday to the near by hills to cool off the summer. Today 30th was announced by Maha Govt as a holiday. 1st (Maharashtra day), 2 and 3rd are Saturday and Sunday. Some where, the heat has played spoilsport this time since the temperature levels are on a high.

Sikkim is currently the national leader which is at 65.30%. Mumbai Voter turnout for 2009 General Elections was a measly 42% on an average.

The overall voting phase turned out to be 50% for the second phase of Great Indian Elections.

The news is that a new documentary is being created to honour and remember the legendary F1 driver Aryton Senna who died in a race crash. The three times world champion, Aryton was regarded as the best ever evey my Micheal Schumacher.

Asif Kapadia will direct the film and it will be written by Manish Pandey and produced by James Gay-Rees , Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner with Kevin Macdonald and Manish Pandey as its executive producers. The permission has been taken from the Senna Family. FIA also will support the documentary by providing the video clips which were never in public domain. The film is shot bu Working Title Films.

A Brilliant adaptation. Remember the Citroen Ad? Bajaj has come up with this brilliant ad. Hats off to Bajaj.

The concept is a hive off from the Citroen ad which again was inspired by the movie Transformers. However, this time around, the transformers are Bikes and the bikes are Bajaj Pulsar 180, Bajaj XCD 135 DTSi and Bajaj Discover.

These bikes transform themselves when every body’s out and start playing basketball with the ball created on the spot using the spare tires lying around. I would like to rate this advertisement from Bajaj very high.

Rating: 4.9/5

And since the Great Indian Elections for the year 2009 is underway, I thought who should actually win. So what do you think about this Great Indian Elections. Your Comments and Suggestions / Feedback are welcome.

Let us take things by one political party.

Indian National Congress (Congress)

INC is again front runner this year to win the elections but it will only be able to form a government in collision. The choice of Collision partners should be carefully undertaken. Congress had received setback in the last elections tenure after Left had revoked their support for the Government.

Good Bits: Increased Youth participation, Rahul Gandhi
Bad Bits: Still reliance on Oldies, Bad Economy.

Prime ministerial Candidate: Manmohan Singh

Kingmakers for Congress: Praja Rajyam, JMM, TDP, SP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

BJP this time around is sounding different, but looks same. With more than required promises, this year they have even encompassed Congress. What’s more is the claim that BJP will bring in the money from Swiss Bank to fund its ambitious plan for the Great Indian Family.

Good Bits: Good IT runway vision for India, Narendra Modi
Bad Bits: Non Transparent Performance, Very old leaders, Varun Gandhi, Larger  than Life Promises

Prime ministerial Candidate: Lal Krishna Advani

Kingmakers for BJP: Left, TDP

The Third Front

These guys are largely seen to become the spoil makers, with Buddhadeb claiming that he is largely hopeful of this front coming to power. With the formation of a third political vertical, the things will become more chaotic. However, interestingly this front will be a group of several small political parties.

The front is being leaded by the Left and is followed by NCP, AIADMK, JDU and like minded similar parties. It is also largely possible that a Left Prime Minister

The Prime Ministerial Candidates:

Apart from Manmohan Singh and Advani, Sharad Pawar, Mayawati and Nitish Kumar are in race for the Indian top post. If the third front comes into power, then there is a strong possibility that Buddhadeb Bhattacharya will move in for the top post.

While it is easy to understand the support for Singh and Advani, others’ possibility is a complex alliance and support. Which brings us the to the new alternative political pot-boiler at a national level, The Fourth Front.

Fourth Front

This game will be played around Nitish Kumar of JD (U), the current Chief Minister of Bihar. If ever this situation arises (Cong, BJP and Left ruled out as incapable to form Govt.), he will be supported by TDP, AIADMK, BJD, AGP, NDA allies with support of BJP. It would be crucial for him to take Left or BSP in his side and convince them so that he can take the top post.

Conclusion:

Ideally, full national parties should come to power. That means, a Congress or BJP powered party should come to power. However, it is highly unlikely. I would favor a Collision between BJP and Congress, again which is highly unlikely. If performance of Nitish Kumar as the cheif minister of Bihar is anything go by, then I think that is an option we should be more open towards given that there are no two National Parties getting a chance to form a government.

A Full 752 Political Parties

There are a total of 752 Political parties in India. Are you wondering that this much even exist? Yes, this much political parties are registered with the Election Commission.

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When elections come near, the whole country’s news channels start broadcasting the SlugFestival of 2009!

L. K. Advani of , Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, Arun Jaitely and almost all of important leaders of the polical parties in India were exchanging ire in a bid to voo voters to vote. While some of these are famous, some were relatively unknown till now. Few high points have been the Weak PM remark BJP’s Advani, the Shoe Gate, Kandhar Hijack on Advani and BJP by Congress (INC) etc…

As Soumyarka Gupta (wrote in DNA, Mumbai today) put it “It’s been five years and the circus is back in town”

You can see it in full force with all bells and whistles blowing hard and long. Its only during these elections that you find new friends and foes. People from your own party turn foes when they don’t get a ticket. Even if you are the brother of ex chief minister of Bihar. And the rivals are just waiting to offer you a ticket.

How much of these ever do succeed? I wish I had the answer.

A Change!

My Foot. Every body is saying that we will give you a change that you need. Every one is promising that they can.

If they could have, why not do it when they had the power. Neither the parties are clean, nor their candidates. Why do you allow a criminal to fight elections? And those who have clean records are not entertained. The guy who is contesting elections have never visited our locality (is what i have known). I did get a letter which was delivered by a “Karyakarta” on his behalf. But there was no one who could listen to what I wished to say. I had went to the offices of the two parties which are in our locality only to find that there is no one around. Every one is busy with some work or attending the promotion meet.

Most of the constituencies still witness chores of complaints from Voters who do not figure in the list. The government appointed nominess do not speed up the process of validatating the electroll list and including those who have been missed out. While they are not delibrately doing it, but they are delibrately lazy.

Hope you guys go and vote for the Indian Elections and excersise your franchise (who ever can).  Vote for the sake of next five years.