THERE IS ADEQUATE ROOM FOR ALL IN INDIAN DEMOCRACY

These elections have made it clear that legacy and sympathy aren't enough to ensure victory

- Shashi Shekhar

Some days back, at a "power dinner" in New Delhi, two gentlemen who have been in Union cabinets, but with opposing coalitions, asked me: What would be the outcome of the Maharashtra polls? I countered: Please tell me, as both of you are the "political insiders."

The member of the ruling dispensation said his coalition would return to power, insisting that he was convinced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi possesses a siddhi (magical power) that helps him wriggle out of the tightest of situations. This election will be another testimony to that "magic."

In his turn, the other leader, who had returned from Mumbai that day after attending a marathon election campaign review, said: "I have given up election forecasts after Haryana results. I don't know what 'secret sauce' the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) uses to cast a spell on the electorate in the last few days of the campaign and all our calculations go for a toss."

Now, what is this "siddhi" the first leader spoke of? He wasn't talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's spiritual powers; he was referring to the PM's brilliant political skills and uncanny ability to read people's minds. That's why BJP workers believe they will make up for any loss of seats in one election, in the next.