Testing times ahead for India

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) surprisingly strong showing in India's general elections last week capped a remarkable comeback for the Hindu fundamentalist party, which a decade ago had just two lawmakers in Parliament.

This time, the BJP looks set to take nearly 200 seats in the Lok Sabha, the 545-seat lower house. This would make it the biggest vote-getter, but still leave it well short of the majority it needs for an uncontested mandate to form a government.

What may now decide whether the BJP gets the chance to taste power will be the same force that has fueled its revival: its fervent political and religious nationalism -- or rather -- fear of it.

Under India's constitution, President Shankar Dayal Sharma is obliged to choose the party or coalition he believes will provide a stable government.

Both the second and third largest vote-getters -- the Congress and the left-wing National Front-Left Front (NF-LF) -- are vehemently opposed to any link with the BJP because of its allegedly anti-Muslim bias. Consequently, the Hindu party faces an uphill battle in translating its election success into government power.

Political analysts have suggested that an alliance between the NF-LF and Congress, aimed at keeping the BJP out of power, is the most likely eventual solution.

Whichever party wins, the times ahead will be difficult. There can be no turning back, however, from the economic reforms started by (P.V. Narisimha) Rao and his team. There can also be no return to the secular divisions that have so often exploded into bloodshed.

The modern age will make new demands on the world's largest democracy and its leaders. The next few years promise to be especially testing.

-- The Nation, Bangkok