I am writing this post full four after the election results. I have to confess that I, like all in my fraternity, could not read the mood of voters. I thought Anil Shirole will win but it was not to be. Ex-pilot and president of Indian Olympics Association Suresh Kamadi rombed home with a satisfying win having a lead of over 20,000 votes.
It is time for introspection not only for losing political parties but also for us journalists. We were way away from the actual facts and believed that whatever trend we predicted were for real. We did not read the writing on the wall because we thought the analysis we engaged in were substantial. Now that this bubble burst with a heavy wind, we have to get back to business, that is analysis.
To be fair, there was no reason why Kalmadi was to be defeated. He had carried out various development works. He is also a suave politician and keeping with the tradition of Pune constituency, also known for his reach. He has not confined himself with a particular community of strata of society. Kalmadi can be seen in Hi-Tech Pune conference as well as at Eid Milan program organized by city Congress. There is also no criminal connection with his name. Media predicted his defeat solely on the assumption that D. S. Kulkarni will eat away his votes. But that did not happen that way.
Consider these facts: Congress had alliance with Nationalist Congress Party but guardian minister Ajit Pawar chose not to attend any campaign rally in favor of Kalmadi. Being a Brahmin from Karnataka, he had also caste factor against him. He is shrewd enough not to publicize or rather cover this disadvantage. This was the first year when Kalmadi openly spoke in Kannada in a gathering at Congress Bhavan in Pune.
We are always proud of being in the midst of people and having our ears to the ground. But these election results have shown us how far we are from the ground realities. So Congress' win is a loss for us. A loss of face and loss of confidence also.
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