My vote would go to the UPA: simply because while acknowledging that the Congress have been deeply communal in the past, indeed the progenitor of sectarian and caste-based politics, the leaders that were at the rudder of the Congress then are not the same leaders steering the party now. Indeed, I think this government has been substantially different from previous Congress governments in respect of patronizing communal politics for party ends. While not performing exceptionally well on the home security front, I tend to believe that the Mumbai attacks have served as a rude wake up call to the government that has been all this while warming its behind, and the subsequent paucity of terrorist attacks since the security overhaul and reforming of the NSG gives me hope that a control of the situation will be obtained without the need of recourse to passing and implementing ungainly and draconian laws.
On the other hand, Modi, who in my view has the blood of thousands on his hands, is being projected as the next prime ministerial candidate of the BJP- that is the single most significantly worrying thing for me. Despite my admiration for his administrative skills, Modi has been thoroughly indoctrinated with a zealous version of the RSS ideology from his days of listening in hypnotized awe to RSS cadres drinking at his uncle Narsibhai's tea stall during his youth. I shudder to think at what might happen if anything approximating absolute power is vested in his hands. Nor for that matter am I a big fan of Advani, who has an equal - if not more unsatisfactory record as home minister - and who at this very moment struggles to keep even his basic party alliances intact. Neither am I impressed with the performance of the BJP at state level elections in the run up to this general election- particularly in Mizoram where it failed to win even one of the 32 seats.
firstly, absolute power will not be granted to any individual or party in near future. we will only see coalition govts. so whether its BJP or congress, they will have to play coalition politics to stay in power. the so-called secular congress has done nothing concrete on any issue in past term except perhaps nuke deal. other than that, congress has no achievements. while, you draw confidence that 26/11 has woken up this govt, IMO, this govt has not only woken up but is panic stricken and it has chosen to surrender to terrorists. IPL moves out due to security fears. and many will follow, if UPA comes back to power.
the countless bomb blasts in all the major cities of our country, events like mumbai and probability that many more will follow, IMO, is more grave situation than that of silly muthalik episode. muthalik was presented as a grave danger by our SENSATIONAL media.
you say, this congress party is different from past ones, I say this congress party is more dangereous to our country than the past ones. I want remind you how one of the ministers of congress cabinet raised doubts over the authenticity of 26/11 just for his cheap vote bank politics.
the din raised by the so-secular parties when IndianMujahideen was encountered in delhi. infact, going so far as to doubt the authenticity of encounter ignoring that a brave officer was martyred!
I am sure BJP would be much much better that the pathetic governance this present coalition has inflicted on us.
coalition politics will keep in check everyone including modi(if he were ever to be a PM candidate), already we see that advani is trying to shed off his rath yatra image. coalition politics, mate, coalition politics.