NEWS AND VIEWS
Australia

Other Countries

Find things in the archive

SUBJECTS

Elections
The media
Opinion polls
Political parties
Lobbying
Political people

CURRENT ISSUES

Financial crisis
Climate change
Environmental matters
Animal liberation
Alcohol & other drugs
The political game

Political News - India

Call in the astrologers

11 May 2009 - When you publish a newspaper during an election campaign in a country where public opinion polls are banned, yet astrology is a practice taken seriously, it is no wonder that the very proper and respectable Times of India has taken to consulting astrologers about what will happen when votes are counted on 18 May. This morning the paper informed its readers with a story beginning on page one that a rare change of position by Jupiter, which stargazers say happens once in 30 years, is likely to have a mixed astrological effect on the country.

With Jupiter changing its position and entering a new zodiac sign — from Capricorn to Aquarius — astrologers predict good times for Indian economy, but also warn against political turbulence in the days ahead. If astrologers are to be believed, the new government formed after May 16, would not last for more than one-and-a-half years and there are strong indications for another general election in late 2010 or early 2011.

Usually, Jupiter moves from one zodiac to another after 13 months, but this time it changed places within five months and is likely to go back to its previous sign, Capricorn, after two months. ‘‘Jupiter is a very strong planet, but its effect is weak when it is in Capricorn. But it has good long term results when it is in Aquarius. But the planet will retrograde after two-and-a-half months and go back to Capricorn. This means, the government formed after May 16 will start facing trouble from August onwards. It will result in re-election,’’ says Mukesh Jain, a Delhi-based astrologer.

With no party getting a clear margin, some astrologers foresee a new front forming the government and say that Indians should get ready to see the rise of a ‘‘dark horse’’ as the prime ministerial candidate. ‘‘No party will be able to form a government. I see a third front form a government with either Congress or BJP’s support and a dark horse from the eastern part of India becoming the prime minister,’’ said Shri Ashok Vasudev, a jyotishacharya with Astromatic Publication.

I suppose it makes as much sense as Malcolm Mackerras

A Tale of Two Oppositions

Wednesday, 22 August 2007 - In Australia the Labor Party Opposition is against the deal Prime Minister John Howard has done with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to allow sales of Australian uranium to India . Yellow cake exports to a country that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, Labor Leader Kevin Rudd argues, help foster the spread of nuclear weapons. Even if controls are agreed on which limit the use of the Australian uranium to power stations, local supplies will then be available to fuel the Indian bomb making program. more

Mutual assistance and a different interpretation

Tuesday, 31 July 2007 - Haradanahalli Deve Gowda Kumaraswamy, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Karnataka, is no political novice and no stranger to the difficulties of dealing with potential Muslim trouble makers. His father, H. D. Deve Gowda, was for a time Prime Minister of India as well as Chief Minister of Karnataka where, like his son, he governed from Bangalore a population of 50 million people including some 12% of Muslims. more

Sensitive and Hyper Sensitive Booths in Kerala Election

Tuesday, 2nd May, 2006 - They obviously hold their political views passionately in Kerala - in the two northern districts of Kannur and Kasaragod tomorrow 10,000 police will be on duty to supervise at "sensitive" and "hyper sensitive" polling booths. more

Evil Drink

Wednesday, 12th April, 2006 - Alcohol abuse is the root cause of all evils in society and all political parties which have backdoor alliances with the liquor lobby should be rejected. more