On this last day of Apr 2019, some titbits thoughts
- General Elections 2019– So yesterday along with other Mumbaikars, I also voted in this crucial General Election of 2019.According to me this time there was less campaigning on the road and more on social media. In my constituency, I just saw once the NDA candidate doing Road show in our area, but I never saw the candidate from UPA campaigning in our area, may be he was least bothered about our area knowingly that for last so many years whether it is state assembly or municipal elections, no candidate from UPA has won. For the first time in my life I saw, in our area, there was such a big queue even before the polling time of 7 am, which prompted to me think at least in this election people are aware, and are willing to cast their vote, otherwise earlier most of the people used to take polling day as paid holiday. This time , the polling day in Mumbai was on Monday, which was preceded by Saturday & Sunday, and again there is public holiday on Wednesday (1st May- Maharashtra Day), so in affect it could have become very long weekend if you take one leave on Tuesday,30th Apr. In social media there was big campaign requesting people not to go out of city on this long weekend and instead ensure that you cast your vote on the polling day. It looks like this campaign had some effect on the people and polling percentage of Mumbai went up by little over 4%.The polling percentage for Mumbai was highest since 1991. I hope this trend continues for future elections also. OR was this election a special one with Modi being the main factor-there was enough campaign on media/social media which was Pro Modi and similarly there was anti Modi campaign also, whatever may be the reason in effect the polling percentage has gone up in most of the states wherever polling has taken place till now. So lets us keep our fingers crossed till 23rd May 2019, the vote counting day.
2.The second most import thing happening in the country is Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketing tournament. The tournament has reached quite an interesting stage, when 48 out of 56 league matches have been played. By winning 8 out of 12 matches Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have claimed top 2 position respectively and have qualified for the final stage. From the balance 6 teams, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are out of the race for the final stage, all the balance 5 teams have got chance to occupy position 3 & 4, and enter final stage.
Now let us see the remaining matches
Match No. 49 (30/04/2019)- Rajasthan Royals (RR) v RCB. As RCB is out of the race, for them it does not matter whether they win or lose but for RR, they must win to keep their hope alive for reaching final stage.
Match No. 50 (01/05/2019)- CSK v DC. As both the teams have qualified it does not matter who wins.
Match No. 51 (02/05/2019)- Mumbai Indians (MI) v Super Risers Hyderabad (SRH). MI have won 7 out of their 12 matches and are currently at no. 3 position. If they win the match then they will qualify , but if Hyderabad wins then they will able to occupy no. 3 position.
Match No. 52 (03/05/2019)- Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) v Kolkata knight Riders (KKR), both have equal points, but KKR is at no.5 position as the net run rate is higher. Who so ever wins, can have final attempt in their last match for getting place in final stage.
Match No. 53 (04/05/2019)- DC v RR. For Rajasthan it will become necessary to win this match provided if they have already won the match against RCB on 30th Apr.
Match No. 54 (4/05/2019)- SRH v RCB. For SRH, win will be necessary to keep themselves in hunt for the final stage.
Match No. 55 (05/05/2019)- KXIP v CSK. For KXIP this match will become very important, provided they had won the match against KKR on 3rd May..
Match No. 56 (05/05/2019) MI v KKR. Both teams will have to play for win , depending upon the results of match no. 51 & match no.52.
So friends let us wait and watch and see from MI, RR, KKR, KXIP & SRH, which 2 teams will qualify for the final stage. In the final stage, team at position no. 1 & 2 will play qualifier, and who so ever wins qualifies for the final match. Team at position no 3 & 4 will play eliminator and who so ever wins , will pay with the loser of qualifier for the place in the final.
Awaiting for your comments/views/feed backs.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
30th Apr 2019.