The last satrap revolt?

The regionally-based 'vernacular'-speaking, rural, but also rapidly urbanis ing, lower caste propertied and more or less bourgeois groups have been cen tral to the Congress a decline and have already restructured the polity, re gionalising it. The 1999 elections will hinge on the fate. of these forces, whether or not the real issues and principles finally emerge front the out rageous opportunism these forces currently display.