Sonia Versus Vjpayee: 14th Lok Sabha Elections 2004

The verdict of Elections 2004 surprised everybody. NDA wasalmost certain of forming the government comfortably under the leadership of AtalBihari Vajpayee, if not to cross the 300 mark. By any stretch of imagination theCongress was not sure that it will be able to improve upon its previous tally. Themedia, the opinion polls, exit polls, etc. all were hopeful that Atal BihariVajpayee will again head the Government, but the verdict bewildered everyone.That gloriously unpredictable entity- the Indian electoral has executed aperfect somersault. Indeed it was the BJP's relentless feel good hype and itsanti-Sonia videshi invective that ultimately pushed the other unshining Indiatowards the Congress Party. In fact Sonia emerged as the shining leader offeringherself and her children as champions of the marginalised and oppressed. Risingfrom political wilderness, the Sonia led Congress showed that it had the gritand gumption to be the engine of change. This book takes a close look at theelection results, the performance of the two main parties and their leaders, andthe reasons behind the surprising verdict of the people of India.