The results of the Karnataka Assembly elections were written not only on all the walls of the State, but through the length and breadth of the country. At least 80 per cent of Indian citizens have suffered the heat of unprecedented price rise. Incidents of terrorism have scared the people more than ever in the past. Add to it every individual's sense of insecurity. These and many more factors have annoyed the citizens. Policy paralysis of the Congress has disillusioned the intellectuals. The UPA Government continues to behave like Left's slaves.

It's evident from the history of the 20th century, communist ideology is cancerously sterile. China bade goodbye to this policy and has progressed. But the Indian comrades are still sticking to this foolhardiness. Four years rule of the UPA has showed a normal progress in the initial period because of the high developmental momentum generated by the six year rule of the BJP-led NDA Government.

For every rise in the inflation and price, the stock reply of the Prime Minister and Finance Minister has been that things will improve within two to three months. To each terrorist act the pet response of the Home Minister and others has been that it was an act of dastardly cowardice and that people should remain calm and maintain peace; "we will fight terrorism with zero tolerance". On the contrary, terrorists today are enjoying infinite Government tolerance while the society is bleeding profusely. The monthly doses of Muslim appeasement have accumulated to the extent that the situation can explode anytime due to the dangerous admixture of terrorism and appeasement.

It is due to these reasons that in the Assembly elections held after 2004, the Congress has lost as many as 13 State Assembly elections. They have won about half a dozen of them, viz, Goa, Manipur, Assam, Pondicherry, Jharkhand, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Most of them send one or two Lok Sabha members, barring Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. As far as the Congress is concerned, it has won only Andhra Pradesh, that too with the help of Maoists at the cost of large-scale bloodshed of innocent people. The Congress is like a dying tree whose roots are drying. Still the Congress leaders are worshipping the goddess Sonia, putting all hopes on her charisma -- the charisma which totally flopped in UP despite her extensive campaign and Rahul Gandhi's road shows.

In Gujarat Sonia pinned her hopes mainly on anti-incumbency factor, the mother-son campaign and defections from faction ridden BJP. Her charisma did not work. Narendra Modi triumphed in the elections. Media headlines, Indira Gandhi like dress-up and brisk walking did not benefit. Indira Gandhi was charismatic, for she had the courage. In spite of stationing of the US Seventh fleet in Indian Ocean, she took the firm decision to confront the menace of over a crore refugees from the then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The war that followed resulted in the largest surrender of the Army in the history.

On the contrary, Sonia is not known for courage. When Indira and Sanjay Gandhi were defeated in the polls, Sonia along with her husband and children went to Italian embassy so that nothing untoward happens to them. Cowardice and charisma do not go together.

It is well-known that Karnataka was considered a stronghold of the Congress. The Congress party has ruled the State almost 50 years out of 60 years since independence. After 1977 debacle, Indira Gandhi found solace and safety of elections from Chikmaglur in Karnataka. Even after 1984 the Congress continued its winning spree in Karnataka Assembly elections. Even after last Assembly elections Congress ruled the State in coalition with JD(S). This time also the Congress pinned its hopes on Sonia's campaigning and Rahul's road shows.

I wonder why Congress leaders believe that Sonia is a charismatic leader. She holds a poor background as a leader. She lost Sharad Pawar together with Maharashtara and Karunakaran in Kerala. She personally uprooted Bihar unit of the Congress. Examples can be multiplied. In comparison, the BJP is a party of a different genre. Karnataka was not won in a day. It was the culmination of 40 years of hard work of its devoted cadre. Chief Minister elect Yediyurappa too has toiled for a long time.

There are one leader parties of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mayawati, Karunanidhi, Jayalalitha and others, who have built their parties by themselves. While Sonia has inherited a huge party. Ten years ago she started leading it. Since then the Congress has suffered sustained disintegration because of dynastic stubbornness, non-recognition of strong regional leaders. Superficial understanding of things does not help. Her use of the word, 'the merchants of death' for a popular mass-leader like Narendra Modi goes on to prove that she is not bestowed with leadership qualities, leave alone being a charismatic leader.

Courtesy: www.dailypioneer.com, June 01, 2008