In a shockingly one-sided victory, the ruling Congress Party's secular alliance defeated the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies in the month-long Indian general election, local media reported Saturday as results flooded in. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
This seems to be accurate reporting of factual material. Looking at it, one assumes that the election was 'fair' - that Congress wasn't packing ballot boxes, and that the interpretation of voter acceptance of secular rule, and of Gandhi's role, are also accurate. But ultimately all politics is local. What isn't clear from the article is what promises were made (did he promise thousands of villages electricity, schools with computers, clean accessible water, e.g.) and can they really be delivered.
This is just remarkable, and really encouraging. Apparently despite multitudinous problems voters in India are managing to keep democratic processes alive. But other articles at other times still indicate strong local prejudice against Muslims, arbitrary bureaucratic actions or non actions, bribery, dowry blackmail, etc. So it's still chancy.