VOTER IS THE WINNER, LESSON FOR PARTIES

The much-awaited verdict in five states that went to the polls recently is out. The voter, now wiser, has emerged as the undisputed winner. The results have a lesson for national parties. The Congress needs to firm up and the BJP needs to introspect. Smaller parties have played spoilers. The Election Commission should prune the burgeoning glut of parties that breeds instability and encourages mergers with a firm no to fragile alliances. Political focus will now shift to the Lok Sabha election. India deserves a stable government at the Centre. All prepoll debates should be policy and issue-based with decorum of a civilised polity. Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula