Talking about elections, Maharashtra goes to polls next week, and I am going to miss voting. I think there are two factors that would determine the results of the elections:
1. Infighting within the Congress-NCP
2. Bal Thakarey not campainging because of his ill health

Bal Thakarey is not getting any younger and it is time that the tenth rung of the party (there are no eight rungs in between) rises to the occasion. This election will be their first test.

Another important factor is whether non-Congress "secular" parties informally withdraw from the fray at the last moment and ask their voters to vote for a "secular" party. This has happened frequently in the past and I wonder whether it will happen this time.