Vajpayee defeated in Indian election upset

[Khalsa4ever]

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

Sangat jee: the results are out! A question for Indian Singhs and Kaurs: what does this mean for Sikhism (ie: good thing or bad thing?)

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NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has resigned after a stunning and unexpected election defeat.

INDEPTH: India and Pakistan

In a dramatic turnabout, the rural poor in India roundly rejected Vajpayee and his Hindu nationalist party.

A sombre, but still determined Vajpayee announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation, when the results became clear.

"Dear countrymen, we have given up office, but not our responsibility to serve the nation. We have lost an election, but not our determination. Victory and defeat are a part of life, which are to be viewed with equanimity," he said.

Vajpayee's defeat paves the way for a transfer of power to Sonia Gandhi. She is regarded as having revived the Congress party after the death of her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, in 1991.

Congress officials say a new government could be formed within days.

Gandhi's party, its allies and leftist parties collected enough seats to form a new government. A decision on whether Sonia Gandhi will be named the new prime minister will be made this weekend.

The party has pledged to move forward with Vajpayee's peace initiative with Pakistan.

"We had been supporting Prime Minister Vajpayee's initiatives vis-a-vis Pakistan. In fact,

we have been the ones who have all along been saying that a dialogue must be initiated with Pakistan. At that time, the then-government was not willing to do so but eventually they did so and we're glad that they followed what we had told them to do," said Gandhi during a news conference on Thursday.

In total, 660 million people were entitled to vote in the election.

The Italian-born Gandhi is the widow of Rajiv Gandhi and daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi, both former prime ministers.

Some opposition parties tried to use her foreign birth against her during the campaign. The 57-year-old became an Indian citizen in 1983.

Analysts say the results point to a rejection of Vajpayee's economic policies, rather than to a vote against reform.

Vajpayee's BJP has led India for the last five years. Confident of being re-elected, the prime minister had called elections six months early after polling suggested his party would win a minority government.

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

[japmans]

well veerji.. it means this:

it means that a country that very few people even CARE about, are going to spend the next few weeks talking about it....

it means that some new useless PM of India is coming in... and this one gets to be the daughter of our beloved beloved:<Edited>: :<Edited>: , soni soni :g :g indira gandhi :wub: @ @ @ :lol: @ :umm: @ @

thaqt's what it means

[ms514]

Sat Sri Akal:

Means nothing. All these people eat, drink and sleep the same policy. Expect more of the same.

[raj_karega_khalsa]

so sonia is prime minister?

[Khalsa4ever]

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

From what I heard, Sonia is expected to be the prime minister, (remember, this is a coalition gov't so they have to pick a leader), but it hasn't been made "official" yet.

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

[guruvah]

weird!....itz gonna be 20 years since the 84 attack......AND....the ghandi dynasty returns! :T:

[bsbk123]

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

The most likely list of the next PM of India is "

1. Sonia Gandhi, Congress

2. Manmohan Singh, Congress

3. Sharad Pawar, NCP

4. Mulayam Singh, SP

5. Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Communist

In Delhi, sikh community was angry bcoz Sajan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler (accused of 1984 anti sikh riots) were contesting however both of these candidates won their respective seats.

I think BJP (RSS/ Vishav Hindu Parishad/ Bajrang Dal)'s base is Hindu Funadmentals. And actually BJP rose out of Ram Mandir Issue in Ayodha. But it has one fully accepted Leader Atal Bihari Vajapai in India. During these Five years BJP did well on International Forums for India and but fail to reach almost 55-60% population heart in Villages.

1984 Riots proves that Congress has no right to accuse BJP for communilsm and fundamentalism. Althoguh Congress comes in power in 1991 again under the real leadership of Finance Minister Manmohan Singh who did much required economic reforms. In 1995, Congress did well again in Delhi and bring CNG, Metro Train in Delhi and during this general election Congress won 6 out 7 seats in Delhi.

Well Congress will most likely form Goverment soon with the support of other parties like Communist etc. I hope it will run good and for the whole 5 years.

How good or bad it could be for Sikhs that majorily depends on Sikh Leadership which is generally busy in their Chair game and making money.

Rest time will tell the storey.

bhulla chukaa dee maufai

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

[S1ngh]

Sonia is not that bad at all..