Women on the roll: Amma and Didi

The 2011 assembly elections have been announced. The winds of change seem to have touched almost all states, save for Assam.

So whats so significant about this loss from the previous elections since Independence.

Yes, it is significant, especially for the electorate in Tamil Nadu. For the first time, it appears that the voters were not swayed by freebies and money offered by the then-ruling dispensation.

TVs, cycles, and currency notes, thrown in plenty didn't change the politican fortune of the Tamil Nadu's first family.

THe DMK combine won just 30+ of the seats losing its strongholds down south to the dark horse, Vijaykant, and Amma.

So what are the lessons our politicans need to learn, if any:

1) Right to Information Act has brought the skeletons tumbling out of the cupboard. So next time you want to make a quick buck, think of innovative strategies.
2) Family-first politics is sickening the electorate. It started with an Italian national and has quickly gaining currency among regional parties.
3) Electorate is price-sensitive, corruption-senstive. Any party that takes people for granted, most often faces the boot.
4) A fine balance between agrarian economy and industrialization is the need of the hour, or else parties will be left with nothing, just like the Left in Bengal.
5) Never, never take the television media for granted. Just as TV can help you boost your ratings, so will it bring you down when you are in a deep mess.

Hope this has taught the fools some good lessons. The incumbent chief ministers will be sworn-in soon. New set of ministers will begin rolling in their agenda.

So, does this guarentee better governance? This i guess is something time will tell. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the moment.