Once again, India’s electorate has confounded the conventional wisdom. Results of the 2009 parliamentary elections appear to be leading to a resounding majority for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)and its leader, the Congress Party.
Only hours ago the opposition National Democratic Alliance and its leader the Bhartiya Janata Party expressed hopes (now dashed) of forming a government. The so-called Third Front and Fourth Front produced whimpering results at the polls.
The UPA will return to power and will have a strong government. The past several years have seen India mired in coalition politics and the leadership hamstrung by the demands of minority coalition partners. Last July the Communist Party of India (Marxist) broke away from supporting Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh; the result was a showdown in Parliament that risked bringing down the government and was narrowly averted amidst charges of horsetrading and undue influence.
The latest results augur well for a stable central government in New Delhi. A government that should be able to enhance India’s stature in the international community while acting to grapple with the immense internal challenges around infrastructure, regional instability, fractious politics at the state level and much more.
In India, the “change we need” is stability, consistency and determination. A billion Indians have spoken. Now the government needs to deliver. In India simple hope still implies audacity.
