Apropos the table how education affects voting intention (The Spoils of War, August 16), the direct correlation between literacy level and support for the BJP and an inverse correlation for the Congress was no surprise. No wonder that during most of its rule, the Congress has tried hard to keep literacy levels low. The BJP should know that it pays politically to have an educated electorate.
Ranjana Chauhan, on e-mail
Your opinion poll's really intelligent and convincing. You've succeeded in doing your job.
Veena Jayam, on e-mail
Your cover with Vajpayee in a general's uniform was pathetic. It takes a lot to become a general and as far as I know, there are no honorary generals in the army. This re?ects how little we appreciate and understand our armed forces— and this immediately after Kargil .
Rohit Sabherwal, New Delhi
I was wondering how Outlook could publish an opinion poll showing favourable ?gures for the BJP and allies. I saw the India Today poll and realised why.
Readers would recollect that India Today's '98 opinion poll almost hit bull's eye while Outlook's was the most opinionated poll reflecting the wishful thinking of its incorrigible leftist editor.
But this time even your opinionated poll was forced to show the BJP as victorious. One hopes the Marxists would now ?nd their true resting place and your favourite Sonia Gandhi would go back to her native land as she’ll lose her SPG protection come December 1. I eagerly await that day.
Ranjit on e-mail
What 's happened between December and now that opinion polls are predicting a possible defeat for Congress whereas earlier the party seemed headed towards a comfortable majority? The BJP would like us to believe that good governance is being vindicated by the polls, but that’s complete hogwash since there has been no qualitative change in the lives of the ordinary Indian. Something did happen and that was Kargil. The truth is: Kargil was won not because of the government, but because of our brave soldiers. The BJP is only exploiting their successes. But that's no reason for the Congress to worry. If they do lose this election, it will not be a loss to the conglomeration of the confused BJP ideologues but to the heroism of the Indian army. Thank god for that.
Indranil Roy Choudhury, Calcutta
