ELECTION RESULTS – 2011

The time has come for the beginning and ending of political drama in India. The elections were conducted some days back in five assemblies - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry and the votes were counted now. The first elections after the 2G spectrum scam surfaced appears to have had its devastating impact on the fortunes of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu. When asked about the loss of DMK-Congress alliance, everyone was referring to the fact that the DMK's A. Raja, a former central communications minister, is behind bars in the 2G spectrum scam. Its MP and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi has been name co-conspirator in the multi-million rupee scandal and could land in more trouble with the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department questioning her over the scam. The Congress admitted to its election defeat by the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and wished the best to J. Jayalalithaa, who is set to be the chief minister of the state for the third time. In West Bengal, Communists found themselves out with a massive defeat in its 34-year fortress West Bengal and a loss, although a narrow one, in Kerala, leaving them with just a narrow sliver of power in northeast's Tripura. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was tipped to win an incredible 226 seats of 294, leaving the Left with only 63. Even its Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee could not make it to the assembly.  As far as West Bengal is concerned, 34 years of rule by the CPI-M is a record. The results of West Bengal and Kerala will be a disappointment for the Left and democratic forces. In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) narrowly lost with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) getting a slender majority of only two seats. This shows that there has been no anti-incumbency trend. However, some caste and religious forces have worked to influence the elections. Congress had a lead of 100 seats in Loka Sabaha elections in Kerala, but they are reduced to 65-70 because of the irresponsible utterances about the age of Achuthanandan by Rahul Gandhi.