SP- Supremely Powerful; The cycle beats the Elephant

6th of March would be know as one of the most remarkable and intriguing day in the history of India politics. The results of UP along with 4 other states were supposed to be declared and all the exit polls predicted a hung assembly in UP, Cong wining in Punjab and Goa and Uttarkand by majority. But the day was full of suprises!

In a matter of few hours the results were out and history was created. Exit polls, which a week ago had pre-emptied the results and media channels with a certain bravado had already declared the results- Assmebly rule in UP and congrees in Punjab. Even, a day before the results, channels were airing debate on wether SP would go to congress or whether BJP bill join hands with BSP. In Punjab , the congress chief ministrial candidate Amaninder Singh went a steo ahead and mentioned that with his 42 years of experience in politics he knew where the tide was swinging and that congress would coast to victory.

The tide did swing, but not in the direction the entire country including the exit polls were forecasting. SP literally swamped the entire UP, engulfing whatever came its way- Mayawati was seen nowhere, alhtough her election symbol - Elephants was omnipresent in the state, Rahul Gandhi in his stubble look admitted defeat and that he along with his party failed miserablly whereas BJP was more focussed and engulfed in delightful Schadenfreude for Rahul`s defeat rather than in introspecting their demise and dismay performance in UP.

SPs performance can be compared to Srilanka`s comback at Adelidate in the second final of the tri-series. Many, including me, were oblivious of the cricket match, since the election coverage was much more facinating, but the results of day were somewhat similar to the second final for me to draw a analogy.

The Australians started with a bang, somewhat like Congress in Punjab and BJP in UP. Then they slowed down and Sril Lanka started to claw back, like SAD and SP in punjab & UP respectively. But australia consolidated and finished with a bang, like congress and SAD in Punjab and UP midway. But soon, lankans showed their class and a terrific partnership between Dilshan and Jayawardene cruised them victory. Somewhat similar happened in UP and Pujnab, where to father and son duo, Mulayam and Akilesh and Prakash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal had strong partnerships and inspite of tough oppostion won convincingly.

Not a single exit poll had predicted a landslide victory of both SP and SAD. The day was riveting and watching the live coverage on various news channels was more existing than watching Indian cricket team or I should say Hockey team (for the time being). Whatever said and done, regional parties have vindicated that central and regional ideologies are different and that National parties need not take their performance in regional elections for granted.

Now what needs to be seen is that whether Mulayam can change the image of UP, like Nitish did for Bihar by having a transparent and non-corrupt goverment. Everybody is eagerly awaiting a change in UP; Except that the garantuan elephants statues will remain intact for the time being!

Sillybutideas!

Cheers

Amit Nanchahal