Normal And Abnormal

The ongoing Lok sabha election is  for 543 seats. Any party contesting in the election must secure a minimum seats of 272 to have simple majority. Parties who have fielded at least these number of candidates have a goal of ruling the country; subject to winning of all the candidates. There are parties who have made coalition with other parties may field lesser number of candidates; however, the parties together in the coalition group will field candidates above this magical figure. Surprisingly, there also parties who have no coalition arrangements with any parties have fielded small number of candidates much below the minimum majority number. What for they do it? There can be two reasons. 1. To have recognition as a national party 2. To do horse trading after the election, depending upon the seats of other major parties . The conditions laid down by the Election Commission for recognition as a national party are: 1. Secure at least 6% of the valid votes in an Assembly or Lok Sabha

It makes hue and cry everywhere when it happens once in a blue moon; that is Mankading! Last victim is Ashwin. He was accused by all around. The cricket law 41.16 states that: "If the non-striker is out of his/her ground from the moment the ball comes into play to the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the bowler is permitted to attempt to run him/her out." When the law is so clear that there is no avenues left to save the offender other than undergoing the prescribed punishment, what is to discuss too much on this. All those who have tears for Jos Butler can approach the MCC and scrap the law or amend it the way they want. However, when the law is in the book, it is to be honoured. No exception for gentle men. When gentle man commit offence he can not be left unpunished. Otherwise, the sympathisers jointly try to define the gentlemen who are exempted from Mankading. I wish to recommend that the best Mankader of the year trophy s

In all the election speeches or TV discussions politicians have only one thing to say; what wrong others did. Next what good they are going to do. Surprisingly, none use to say, what good they did. We Indians in general and the Malayalees in particular believe all those bubbles thrown by them and stay behind them like a fort. We are ready to do anything on their advice; even a murder. Those who have no time to spend with their families have enough time to attend the rallies and political meetings. Here, politicians are not commanding at their likes, rather we are surrendering to them voluntarily. We should immediately get out of political faith. It is not the  party that matters; it is our people that matters. Every political party is deceiving the people one way or the other. We should not allow them to continue with this attitude towards the people. Let us ignore the colour of the flag but look at the people who have offered themselves to represent us. Look at their character, loo

India started the home series against Australia with boosted confidence injected by the media. The result of the series have however, proved that both the team and the media were wrong. It was mere over confidence without assessing themselves. After winning the first two matches the remaining three and the series were surrendered without any fight both from the batstsmen and the bowlers. These three games could show us that we are not mentally prepared to fight and win a game. If one or two players shine well in the opposition team we be come bubbles. Along with the players the coach too should assess his competence to remain in the helm of affairs. Even now, with the help of the ensuing IPL show the players can be moulded and moulded ones can be identified. I do not wish to say that the current Indian team is below any team in the world. They can beat any team in the world but, unfortunately, they can also be beaten by any team in the world. KV George

Dear Friends, After the recent incidents and the consequent threat of conflict between India and Pakistan I have seen a video of people walking through the Pakistani streets holding banners. The banners read, "I am a Pakistani. I don't hate India. I hate war. I am not alone. There are many people like me", "War is not the answer. Women against war" and "We demand safe return of Abhinandan Vardhman." These words prompted me to write this letter for the attention of each one of you. I am an Indian, a senior citizen. I have no hatred for the people of Pakistan. I wish peace in both the countries. I wish both the countries to be developed in par with the developed nations. I could travel extensively through my country and could mingle with people from different parts of the country during the past few decades. I am certain to tell you that most of the people of India hold similar view of mine. We have no any born hatred towards you. We always wish the w