India elections: media's false image v. reality with reality winning

[JI7]

it seems the poor who voted were able to make a difference. despite the media images the voted based on their true situations.

<Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee, touted as the ruling coalition's show-stopping, vote-catching statesman-politician, had called the polls six months early on the back of his peace initiatives with nuclear rival and neighbour Pakistan and a perceived heady feeling over robust economic growth.

His party spin doctors had coined the phrase "India Shining" - a reference to what they said was a feel-good factor sweeping the country.

The government spent taxpayers money spreading the good word.

It seemed to be a cruel joke in a nation where a third of its people still live on less than $1 a day and human development indices are largely appalling.

As it turns out, most of the voters were not amused and decided to put the lights out on the BJP and its allies, leaving politicians and analysts stunned by the extent of the defeat.

Not that the BJP-led coalition was on a roll in the run-up to the elections, despite glowing reports in the Indian media about its seeming invincibility.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3711395.stm