After the drubbing in UP, the BJP and the Congress must introspect The Samajwadi Party’s overwhelming victory in the 2012 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh is proof that the people are fed up with the Congress rule at the Centre. The anger against the party and the government is justified since the Congress has been unable to stem the escalation of prices of essential items as well as provide people with new employment opportunities. In fact, the election results were a blow not only to the Congress but also the BJP. Hopefully, this loss will push the Congress and the BJP to rework their strategies and work for the welfare of the people.
Kavitha Srikanth, Mumbai

In his election rallies, Rahul Gandhi blamed Mayawati for promoting graft in UP, forgetting that the UPA is neck-deep in corruption (It’s Akhilesh Pradesh, March 7). Thankfully, the voters of UP have made the Congress pay the price for being hypocritical.
SP Singh, Delhi

You can’t fool everyone all the time

With reference to Sujata Anandan’s article Out of touch, out of mind (Anandan on Wednesday, March 7), the author rightly points to what ails the Congress and its leaders: their propensity to emphasise the Nehru-Gandhi legacy. It is time they come out of this mindset and focus their energies on good governance. It was the Congress’s failure at the Centre that had a negative impact on its performance in Uttar Pradesh. The leaders must realise that it is increasingly becoming difficult to fool voters with promises since they are now clued in to what is happening within the party and at the national level.
Ashish Rai, via email

Focus on the dragon also

This refers to Sitaram Yechury’s article Under the influence (Left Hand Drive, March 6). The author, it seems, is living in a different era. Instead of harping only on the imperialist ambitions of the western powers, he should focus on China’s ambitions and its human rights record.
Sunil Raheja, via email