Vote-it-eez?

It seems come elections and I get a sudden urge to blog :)

Some preliminary observations on Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections.

1. Hansel D'Souza contested elections as citizens' candidate.
While things would have been better had he won - he nonetheless got 10000 votes. The results have to be seen in the right perspective.
Convincing 10000 of your merit without a personality or party backing is tough. Most other candidates who win elections as independents - are local goons or like.
This should give a fillip to all who wish to contest from urban middle class pockets in BMC, TMC, PMC elections in a few years' time.

A1. Dr. Mona Shah / Meera Sanyal finished 5th & 4th respectively in Mumbai South constituency in LS '09
A2. Dr Vidyadhar Laxman Joshi - a 'true' PhD - polled 12000 odd votes. Finished 5th.

In conclusion, a sizable candidates who don't get media coverage but are good are sought out and voted for. :)

2. A not-to-be-missed trend this election - is MNS stepping out of also-ran shoes esp. in Mumbai city. MNS gets more seats than SHS, BJP, NCP to finish as the second largest representation from the city.

It has 23% of Mumbai vote share - second only to 28% of the INC. It has replaced SHS as the main alternative to Congress in the city.

My first estimate is that - it returns better figures in Nashik, Pune, Thane.