The Manifesto Game.

It is Election time in the country and compared to last General Elections I saw, this one comes with lot of mystery and uncertainty. Each political party trying to woo the voters with their manifestos. This time round I tried to scan through the manifestos of the top three political parties.

Taking the ruling party's manifesto, I didn't find anything promising. May be they listed many things that they are going to do, but I dont thing the Indian voter will beleive them. Simply put, they had 10 years to implement what they are promising the Indian Voter that they will implemet it in the next five years. Going by the feel of the country, their chances in the GE2014 seem to be very very bleak.

The principal Oppostion party's manifesto came in very late, to be precise when the election's first phase was underway. This time we can say the marketting strategy of BJP was very successful in selling brand Modi to India. They harped on development and growth of Gujarat state that is presently led by the party's prime ministarial candidate. But this model is equally challenged and questioned by experts as it is praised by its party loyalist and partymen. But it feels that BJP has clearly misunderstood the terms "Culture and Tradition". They still have the communal taint of Hindtutva that they carried from their inception. BJP has to understand that their development plan is appreciated by the Indian Voter, but not the unneccassary communal tunes. The Indian Voter will definitely reject such narrow mindedness.

AAP, the novices in Indian Politics present a radical manifesto. They too propose development and upliftment of the common man, but for the conservative Indian Voter it may be only be a castle built in air. AAP's model may be the right model to implement, but will they get the support of Common man and infrastructure in place? AAP could have better provided their detailed plan in acheiving their goal. The Indian Voter is in a fix, as to wondering how will AAP acheive the reforms they are promissing. Will they have the numbers?

The third front consisits of too many manifesto's, that I didn't have time to follow-up with any of them.

THE NUMBER GAME.

Going by the current feelings regarding GE2014, I feel it is difficult for the ruling party to return to power. The principal Opposition, may harvest the most due to the under-performance of UPA, but given the presence of AAP and third front, none of them seem to make it 272 mark. Unless there are post-poll alliances between NDA and third front or AAP and third front or any other combination and permutation happens, India should be ready to brace for a hung parliament.

Even if India votes honestly, (which very difficult to attain), I don't think we are heading for a steady government. Still, it is the worlds biggest reality show in action. It has drama, melodrama, scheming, suspense and action. So sit back and enjoy the show. The climax will be on May 16 and the grand finale in the weeks following it.