Sensex update and more election news

The Sensex has ended the day after shedding 565 points, which is the biggest intra day fall since 1992. The bloodbath on Dalal Street was only halted when Manmohan Singh said that the government would not backtrack on privatisation. Surely, this panic is unwarranted. The Congress government looks fairly stable and has the numbers. Is there more to it than meets the eye?

Two other pieces of election related news- the BJP and its allies barring Vajpayee will not attend Sonia's swearing-in. Come on guys, don't be such poor losers. Amusingly enough, they are staying away to express 'people's sentiments. I thought in a democracy, that was expressed through elections..clearly I am wrong! Even more amusing is the RSS condemnation of her election as CPP leader and Prime Minister- this from a political group that has never ever faced an election. What's that word....legitimacy?

Somnath Chatterjee will be the new pro-term Speaker of the Lok Sabha, at least temporarily. The man, despite how boring he is, has won 10 times!

It also seems like we are now moving from the NDA to the UPA- the United Progressive Alliance that is to govern the country now. One hopes that they remain both united and progressive.