A joint front of a section of media seems intent to ridicule, confuse and project in bad light the BJP and the parivaar. This joint front's strategy is also to brighten the Congress name. They project the 'dynasty' in very attractive colours, sometimes even injecting divinity into it. This makes the electoral battle unequal for others from the very start.

Almost 10 years ago, Assembly elections were held in the national Capital. Onion prices had then gone for a spin. Why? Onion supplies were stopped in an organised manner by truckers' strike in Nashik and other areas. The BJP lost the elections due to scarcity and sky-rocketing prices of onions.

Today, what about the prices? The common man has been hit the most. Prices of essential commodities have sky-rocketed. Vegetables have become a luxury. Transportation cost has become unbearable for commuters. Diesel and petrol prices are adding to the common man's woes. By far, it is the worst period in terms of price rise. But see how the media is treating the issue of price rise! It is publishing Government explanations on the unprecedented phenomenon. Here again, recall how the fate of the BJP Government in Delhi was decided by only one factor - onion prices.

Recount the NDA rule, and you will not find one protest dharna or resolution against price rise. The Government was devoid of high-level corruption, barring the whispering campaign against particular people. The GDP growth rate touched 8.5 per cent in the last year of NDA rule. The stock of India went up due to the nuclear test. Unfortunately, the country has been cut to size after the Indo-US nuclear treaty.

At one point of time, economists praised India and compared it with China. It is surprising that media didn't find anything positive in its reporting while dealing with the NDA Government. The media has made it a habit of making mountains out of molehills. The media in India had given left-handed treatment to the NDA Government after Babri demolition and burning of more than 60 Ram Sewaks in Sabarmati Express in Godhra and took upon itself the task of defeating the BJP, especially in Gujarat. The people of Gujarat responded otherwise in two consecutive assembly polls.

There is no denying that the BJP today is in bad shape. But which party is in good shape? The Congress is only shining in newspapers. What has happened in Maharashtra? Is the party free from groupism and infighting? The extraordinary delay in forming the ministry tells the whole story. The Congress-NCP victory is absolutely due to the Raj Thackeray factor.

There are 26 seats where the BJP-SS-MNS combine polled more votes than the Congress and the NCP put together. Actually, the family feud in Shiv Sena helped the Congress-NCP alliance to just touch the 50 per cent mark.

In Haryana, despite propaganda, the Congress could not get even a simple majority. Had the previous alliance of INLD-BJP worked, statistics show the Congress would have bagged only 42.28 lakh votes, that is, 38 per cent. On the other hand, the INLD-BJP combine would have polled 46.68 lakh votes, that is, 42 per cent. That is the ground reality. I only want to make the point that the Congress is also not in good shape. There is no cause for euphoria. Setbacks and comebacks are a normal political phenomenon.

The ideological constituency of the BJP remains intact. In the three bye-elections in Kerala, the party's share of votes is symptomatic of its health. Even in its hour of difficulty, the BJP has increased the percentage of votes in each seat. Now corporation elections are knocking on the doors. This would clear many doubts. Although the BJP is not in the pink of its health, it is bound to recover astonishingly fast.

Courtesy: www.dailypioneer.com, November 15, 2009