The first White non indian born prime minister in history (unless you count the British Imperialist). If you don't know her...she was the Italian wife of Indira Gandhi's son Rajiv Gandhi. I think this is very interesting and shocking. Just goes to show that the democratic way works. I am worried about her safety though given that most of the votes for her came from the poor and rural areas of India. I don't know how the more rich and influential Indian fundamentalists may take this? Just very surprising. I know my dad was anxiously awaiting this news...I don't know how he'd react?! Just stunning to see in a country that most think of as backwards and misogynistic has elected two women leaders as well as one that is not even of the majority race in that country.
CNN wrote:Stunning upset in India poll
Thursday, May 13, 2004 Posted: 8:36 AM EDT (1236 GMT)
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has conceded defeat in parliamentary elections in a stunning voting upset that should see the return of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to power.
Vajpayee -- who called the election six months early -- is also expected to resign later Thursday, BJP President Venkaiah Naidu said.
The move follows a stronger than anticipated showing from the main Congress party headed by Italian born-Sonia Gandhi.
Though the party won't be able to form a majority, the stage has now been set for Gandhi to become the next prime minister in the world's biggest democracy.
As details of the result were report, celebrations erupted on the streets throughout the country with Congress supporters waving flags, dancing, singing as they heralded the party's apparent victory. ('Unreal' result)
Counting is continuing but unofficial trends by major TV stations and early results have Congress leading the BJP and likely to win over 200 seats in the 543-member lower house, or Lok Sabha.
The immediate result of the vote count is likely to be a hung parliament, with no party gaining a clear majority of 272 seats.
Senior Congress officials say they are confident they will be able to form a government with the help of left-leaning parties, CNN New Delhi Bureau Chief Satinder Bindra reports.
"We have not got the mandate of the people, we have decided to sit in the opposition," BJP President Naidu announced Thursday.
Gandhi, 57, is the widow of Rajiv who was was assassinated in 1991 by Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels. Rajiv is the son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and grandson of India's first premier, Jawaharlal Nehru. (Nehru-Gandhi dynasty)
India's last female leader was Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated while in power in 1984.
Gandhi, and her popular children Rahul and Priyanka, have revitalized the Congress party, leading it to defy opinion polls that only weeks ago suggested they had no hope of faring well in this election. (Gandhi profile)
Vajpayee called the early election in a seemingly unassailable position -- boosted by a booming economy and also a strengthening peace process with neighbor and arch-rival, Pakistan.
Congress party officials said they would keep pursuing a peace dialogue with Pakistan, while Islamabad -- which had been hopeful the BJP-led ruling coalition would be reelected -- says it is hopeful talks will continue. (Full story)
The 79-year-old Vajpayee had sought a fourth term as prime minister, arguing he had earned another five years in office because he had turned the economy around. (India under Vajpayee)
Early opinion polls had indicated that Vajpayee's ruling Hindu nationalist-led coalition would easily win a new five-year term.
In contrast, the Congress party and its allies have been championing the nation's poor, which the party says has been left out of India's new found prosperity.
While Indians have traditionally voted on party, caste and religious lines, this election has been fought on bread-and-butter issues such as jobs, prosperity, water and electricity.
Financial markets were initially nervous with the benchmark index of the Mumbai Stock Exchange, the Sensex, opening 3.3 percent lower. But the Sensex bounced back as early results and trends pointed towards a Congress victory, closing 0.77 percent higher at 5399.47.
India's massive election was staggered over several stages because more than 650 million people voted. (Marathon election)
Elections are usually tinged with violence in the world's largest democracy, and this year was no different -- despite more than 400,000 security forces being deployed.
Election violence claimed 48 lives, less than half the number of deaths that occurred in the 1999 election.
