Two races to watch this week with far reaching consequences

Two important political one off elections are to be watched tomorrow in both US and India. Normally these would have been dismissed as just another mid term race, but for the following reasons.

In America this Congressional race in South Western Pennsylvania should have been a cakewalk for Republicans, considering it their safe seat. But the Republican candidate is running neck with his Democratic counterpart. The neophyte Democrat is giving his opponent run for money in a seat carried by the Republicans for last 15 years - with Donald Trump carrying this district by 22 points in the last election.

Even if the Republican candidate manages to scrape through by a narrow margin, a win by 2 points rather than 22 points will be a red flag for GOP in a crucial swing state. It will energize the Democrats for the upcoming House and Senate elections at end of this year.

Now let's move on to India, where the byelection for two Lok Sabha seats was held last Saturday. BJP is likely to retain both seats which it held earlier. But it will be important to observe the voting patterns of the two important opposition parties of the state - SP and BSP who have recently joined hands together to fight against BJP.

If the common candidates of the SP-BSP duo are able to give a tough fight, then it will give a boost to carry on this alliance to the next Lok Sabha where they might be able to slow down the BJP juggernaut in the politically important state of UP, if not bring it to a screeching halt. If they lose by a considerable margin, then it will put a spanner on any plans of a future MAHAGATHBANDHAN (grand alliance) against BJP. So, tomorrow is the day...


I will be closely watching the results of the Pennsylvania election which will be held this Tuesday, 12th March and its results will be out late in the evening. Later late evenint, when it will be the morning of 13th in India the trends of the UP byelectiona will be available. The evening of this 12th March will be the harbinger, throwing some light about things to come in the more important national elections to follow.

I will be closely watching the results of the Pennsylvania election which will be held this Tuesday, 12th March and its results will be out late in the evening. Later late evenint, when it will be the morning of 13th in India the trends of the UP byelectiona will be available. The evening of this 12th March will be the harbinger, throwing some light about things to come in the more important national elections to follow.