Obama ki "Maya"

I am self confessed Barack Obama fan.
Though mind you I have no love for America or Amercians as such!

This middle class small town man, African Amercian, has suddenly landed center stage and has caught the world's imagination and mine too :)

For some inexplicable reason I am becoming increasingly interested in geo-politics and personalities. And in the last few months two people have me gripped - UP's Mayawati and this Senator from Illinois, USA - Barack Obama.

The two come from humble backgrounds and from virtually no-where landed themselves on the respective national polotical secne. Both are relatively young and represent minrotries in their respective countries.

They both in a very uncanny way have played their election sums in a rather similar shrewd way. They both started by first getting the support of the majority races and then focusing on the miniority races. Obviously hoping that the miniority votes would come their way once the winds were blowing in their favour.

Mayawati won an unprecdented elecation in UP's history on the vote bank of the Brahamins, Muslims and the Dalit just happened to fall into the BSP ballot boxes.

The good looking, well spoken Barack Obama while insisting to the majority whites that this election is not about an African wnating to make history in the White House, is cashing in on this ethnic factor by far the most so far.

While he is not the first black presidential candidate, but then neither did Reverend Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988 no Reverened Al Sharpton in 2004 come as close to being nominated by democartic party.

While Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may go hoasrse trying to convenience themseleves (atlest the outer fascade) and the American and the world that this election is not about gender or enthicity. But then these are the respective votes that both of them are banking on resepctively.

Ironically, Barack Obama has shattered the aura of invincibility that has shrouded Hillary Clinton. He is getting votes 1/3 votes from female voters. He is giving the Americans, irrespective of race or colour, the soaring message of hope and generational political changes, which is thrilling crowds wherever he has been travelling.

That's the aura and change the Mayawati has promised to deliver winning from the majority and delivering (hopefully) for the miniority dalits.

During my recent holidays, I happened to drive a lot around Noida, Greater Nodia, Aligarh etc in UP - change is in the air, its coming and coming fast (ofcourse with the rider that whatever develeopment is allowed has to be at the cost of major per centage going into the Maya-BSP kitty!)

But for the moment, keep your honest conscience at bay for the sake of the people of UP (and perhaps India for Maya seems to be slowly and gradually paving the road for "the" hot seat in New Delhi come 2009).

Anyways back to the USA elections. D despite the results of Super Tuesday results with Hilliary Clinton wearing her heart on her sleeve and tears in her eyes (by the way her wrinkles are all too visible) I am still rooting for Barack Obama.