Chidambaram says poll results will be a product of missed opportunities

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has said that the result of this year's general elections will be an outcome of missed opportunities during the critical years of 2010-11.

Interacting during the launch of a book authored by Indian Express editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta, titled-'Anticipating India-The Best of National Interest', Chidambaram said crucial mistakes were made in 2010 and 2011.

"Whatever will happen on the 16th of May, I think will be the direct product of those critical years 2010 and 2011. Looking back, it is very clear that opportunities were missed, looking back it's very clear that crucial mistakes were made, looking back it's quite clear that even the principal opposition party didn't see the opportunity in 2010 and 2011, but I think those are the critical years," said Chidambaram.

He was referring to the anti-corruption movements that took place in various parts of the country in 2010- 2011, saying that the Congress and opposition parties failed to cash in on the opportunity of communicating with the masses.

Dignitaries, including External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad, social activist and former police officer Kiran Bedi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari, were also present during the book launch.

Chidambaram added there was lack of communication between the political class and the people.

"But clearly, clearly in 2010 and 2011, we, the political class should have communicated with the people of India, I think the disconnect between the political class and the people grew, and I think, whoever noticed it first began to communicate, and is going to reap the benefit," he said.

Chidambaram also spoke about the growth rate and steps taken by the government to improve it.

"The fact is that between 2004 and 2008, we did record 8.5 percent growth. I hope you believe that number. Subsequently, we took a number of steps like every other country in the world to anchor growth," he said.