rediff.com's expert panel and its battery of reporters across the country answer readers' poll queries:

Jaykumar, Nagpur
What about prospects win bjp in Nagpur?

Answer: Nagpur has been made interesting by Banwarilal Purohit of the Vidarbha Rajya Aghadi.  The other factor is the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party tie-up. In the 1999 election, both the Congress and the NCP had suffered because their vote was split. If Purohit eats considerably into the Congress-NCP votes, the BJP could dislodge Vilas Muttemwar.

Manish Singhal, Delhi
As we know that a government servant has to resign from his post before contesting the Lok Sabha election. Why does this rule not apply to MLAs like Mulayam Singh Yadav, as he as CM of UP, is in government service?

Answer: The chief minister's post is not an office of profit. That's Constitution. That's law.

Hrishikesh, Bangalore
Sonia doesn't have an experience at all as big leader. Can she lead the complex and diverse country?

Answer: That remains to be seen, right Hrishikesh? Let the people of this country decide if they want to give her a chance or no.

Nilesh Jain, Mumbai
Answer: Why shouldn't the assets of immediate relatives of the candidate not be scrutinised as the politicians are known to have benami properties?

Answer: The Election Commission can scrutinise such properties, provided there is evidence. We need stronger laws to make it difficult for people have benami properties. More than that, we need the political will to enforce these laws.

Vipul Kumar Gupta, Mumbai
India Shining!! Is it the result of efforts made by NDA govt in last 7 years or the efforts made by Congress in last 50 years??

Answer: It's the people who make a country shine, not political parties. Indians, by the dint of their hard work, have proven that they can compete with the best in the global market. Infosys and Wipro were neither created by the Congress nor by the BJP. Indians make India shine.

Prashanth, USA
Don't you think there is a change in job situation in India. Don't you think life style has become good in BJP (NDA) ruling?

Answer: I do not agree, Prashanth that there is a change in the job situation in India. The number of jobless is only increasing. Lifestyles, yes, have improved but that is true for a small section of society. It's far too early to sit back and say 'oh we have done so well.' There is still a lot, lot more to do.

Farah, Lucknow
BJP leaders are always telling us they have plenty of possible successors to the PM's post. But don't you think that someday in the near enough future, having too many leaders of more or less equal stature may become more of a liability than an asset to the party?

Answer: Very true, Farah. Mature parties, mature organisations find ways to deal with such situations.

Utsav, Bengal
How many are NDA expected to win in Bengal? Why don't we have President's Rule in Bengal during elections, the police guarding the booths are filled with CPI-M goons. Last election, I found my vote had been cast already.

Answer: The CPI-M is on a strong wicket in West Bengal. President's rule is imposed only when there is extra-ordinary breakdown of the law and order situation. May be you think the situation in Bengal is extra-ordinary, but the President must agree.

Jigish, Los Angeles
There should really be a system in place for Indian citizens abroad to vote. Any chance of this happening in the near future? Are MPs accountable for the money they spend when they are in power? If yes, who ratifies those accounts?

Answer: The dual citizenship has become a reality. May be one day dual citizenship will come with political rights. How soon? Your guess is as good as mine. MPs are accountable for the money they spend. They are answerable to Parliament.

NAVARATNAM, SYDNEY
I am an Indian residing in Australia. Voting is compulsory in Australia and if you do not vote, stiff fine is imposed. Why don't the same system followed in India?

Answer: I don't have answer to this 'why'. But I would whole-heartedly support such a provision.

Rajesh Vedula, Washington
Punditji, It surprises me that some candidates who have been associated with a political party for a long time, change their party's if they were not given a TICKET, is there anything which prevents this? They do not think about people, they just have POWER HUNGER and GREED FOR MONEY.

Answer: Dear Rajesh, wish they thought about the people they represent. Wish they worked for them. Wish they worked hard. Wish they were sincere. Wish…

Abhijeet, Mumbai
I adore BJP as a party and would vote for them in the coming elections, but the candidate that I will vote for will be a shiv sena candidate and I would hate to see him in power. But just because i want to see BJP in power at the center, I am going to vote for some guy ho is not even worth a vote. What would u comment on this?

Answer: Dilemmas of life. Hmmm…

Poll Pundit: Earlier answers