The aftershocks of India’s electoral upset continue to shake the country. In one of the most dramatic political turn-arounds in 60 years, rural voters said quite clearly they are tired of being ignored.
The ruling party’s “India Shining” campaign, boasting of new jobs, glowing cities, and broadband heaven didn’t stick with villagers who have no running water or electricity. So the world’s largest democracy changes course, sending the BJP packing and taking a chance on a return to India’s storied past.
As Delhi rolls out the red carpet for Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party, some wonder if this time the rural poor will be invited along, or if a revival of the Gandhi dynasty will be just more, politics as usual.
Guests:
Nirupama Subramanian, editor of The Hindu
Smithu Kothari, visiting professor at Princeton University
Nisid Hajari, managing editor of Newsweek International.