The electoral surprises of the recent general and state elections came as an abrupt reminder to politiciansthat the poor masses cannot be ignored, even as official attention is lavished on a few islands of prosperity,on narrow, though stupendous, successes in a few select sectors where India was, indeed, "Shining".The neglect of the poor, however, is not the only major failing that can jeopardise political futures. Indeed,it is only a question of time before circumstances in the widening areas of lawlessness and violence in thecountry become too unbearable to ignore.