The Great Debate (India)

Is this the end of the road for Advani?

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani’s prime ministerial ambitions were crushed when the ruling Congress-led coalition defied predictions to sweep the 2009 general election.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s coalition was only about 11 seats short of an outright majority from the 543 seats at stake, according to election commission data.

The Times of India described Advani as the “Ivan Lendl of Indian politics”, comparing his inability to grab the top job to the tennis player’s failure to win a career Wimbledon title.

Variously described as a hardliner, a hawk and a wily politician, the 81-year-old Advani is a leading advocate of his party’s trademark Hindu revivalism. But critics said his age may not have played well with young voters.

Does the BJP’s electoral defeat signify the end of Advani’s political career?

Who will be India’s PM?

As election fever reaches its peak amid the counting of votes on Saturday, all eyes are now on which party will cobble up a majority and stake claim to form the new government. And who will be India’s new prime minister? Will it be –

MANMOHAN SINGH

The father of India’s economic reforms, Singh’s image of a compromise prime minister opened him up to criticism that he took orders from Congress party boss Sonia Gandhi and he has been criticised as a weak and directionless leader.

He regained stature by pushing through a civil nuclear deal with the United States, despite opposition from his left allies.

Singh, 76, takes a keen interest in economic issues — a rarity in India where prime ministers focus mostly on foreign affairs and domestic politics.

LAL KRISHNA ADVANI

Variously described as a hardliner, a hawk and a wily politician, Advani is a leading advocate of his Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) trademark Hindu revivalism.