Economic Times - On the Predictions made by Different Astrologers

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Sorry, they got it all wrong

SHALINI SINGH

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2004 01:27:44 AM ]

It was in the stars, but it didn't come down. Psephologists apart,

the next crop that failed miserably in predicting results of GE04

(general elections 2004) were the astrologers, most of whom placed

their bets on Vajpayee returning as the PM of a slightly weaker

coalition government.

In a recent ET article, Sunita Chhabra emerged as the only one of six

to predict that Vajpayee would not return as the PM. Suresh Kaushal,

bureaucrat-turned-astrologer, had predicted a "tough time for

Vajpayee" in another publication with startling or unexpected

election results.

Well-known astrologers Ajay Bhambi and Pt PK Sharma, tarot readers

Rithambara and Gulliben Daruwal, and astrologer-cum-aura reader

Subroto Bhattacharya who were gunning for the NDA and Vajpayee, admit

they went wrong. Not even one astrologer named Sonia as a possible

prime minister, demonstrating not perhaps the weakness of the

mystic/occult sciences, but certainly that of the interpreters.

Bhambi, in his defence, says he got Vajpayee's lagna wrong. "Some

people say he has a Scorpio lagna, but the poll results show that his

lagna is Libra, with a Jupiter maraka (destroyer planet)," he says.

His future predictions are more cautious, hinting at fractured

electoral verdicts and political instability till 2009, though with

India growing through the tough times to emerge as a super power in

2009.

"I still say that astrologically Sonia cannot be the PM still and the

charts point towards mid-term polls in 2006," he says.

Sunita Chhabra says she did not name Sonia because her horoscope is

only becoming strong after August 2005. However, she says

politically, there are more surprises in store for us. "The BJP and

Congress parties are running Mercury with Rahu and Rahu is a shadow,

a secretive planet, that is why the poll results were so unexpected.

The BJP still has some cards to play which will only emerge at the

end of the month," she predicts.

According to Chhabra, in September, LK Advani's chart becomes strong,

which means he retains an important seat.

"The new government and new PM staying in power till August is a

question mark because of Rahu. But if it does, it will stay the full

term, with Sonia Gandhi emerging as one of the best prime ministers

of the country," she says.

Subroto Bhattacharya says his prediction about the NDA returning to

power with Vajpayee in the hot seat went wrong because he did not

factor in the effects of the coming June 6 Venus transit, which gives

unexpected gains to foreign nationals and women. However, he

maintains NDA will return as it is leaving office on a day which

signifies no change of rule.

"The new government can last a maximum of 36 months in a climate of

upheaval. Then, we will have elections again and the same NDA will

return to power with 320 seats and a majority for the BJP. The new PM

will be very young but very efficient," he says.

Bhattacharya also maintains that Sonia may not make it to PM yet. His

theory is that the Congress will field a dummy candidate for the job

like Manmohan Singh or Sharad Pawar who will only survive till

November, after which Sonia will become the PM though only for 2

years.

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