In what is arguably the biggest democratic event in the world, people of India has decided in favour of continuance of policies of current governance.
Generally, anti-incumbency factors works against the ruling party/alliance. However, results of general elections 2009 have favoured continuance, and outrightly favoring positive image of growth and development, rather than negative notions of religious fanatism, self indulgence and self pity. This, in itself, is a strong and clear message to the country's political class.
This is the first time since 1957 of Nehruvian times of nationalist euphoria that the same leadership who ruled full term is being re-elected. Those were times of national heroism and euphoria, and very early days of Indian democracy. Credible alternatives had not yet to emerged challenge congress party leadership, most popular leadership behind Indian independence struggle.
Especially at a time when the world is reeling under unprecedented, for independent India, economic recession, stability and continuity is of paramount importance and people of India, often called gullible masses, have favored the same. Consideration for national governance change with time and context, and Indian populace has shown consistent maturity to respond to the call time and again.
Time now requires professional governance and administration. Government headed the economist Dr. Manmohan singh would continue now. Dr. Manmohan singh happens to be a professional, rather than a politician, to head the country. Politician is typically overloaded with the task of party administration and biased by political and ideological perspective. Professional, in contrast, is characterized by scientific knowledge and analytical decision making. While both has its merits and demerits, time now calls for professionalism in politics and governance moving away corruption and votebank politics, and that is what people of India had decided for.
Center-right and center-left forces are not eliminated but only marginalized for now, and that is important balancing force. It is not a brute majority or a unilateral victory as the winners would like to present it as. Fact is, people of India have considered and weighed myriad of current issues, and sent a decisive signal for now
While it indicates largely return to government for Congress party, and rejection of communist parties in their bastions Kerala and West Bengal, it is significant in that ruling party of the state cutting across political spectrum is elected to massive victory for in Delhi, Gujarat, Orissa and Bihar. This rules out typical considerations of anti-incumbency factor, religious fanatism, factionalism, etc.
Key differentiator in each of them appears to be image of development oriented governance; be it political combination of local governance or opposition promising change. This clear mandate for growth and development in laudable where leftist trends seem to be raising its held in many traditionally capitalist parts on the world
