VOA标准英语2009年-India's Ruling Congress Party Emerges Vict

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
22 October 2009

 
Congress party workers wave party flags and dance to celebrate their victory in the Maharashtra State elections at the party state headquarters in Mumbai, India, 22 Oct 2009
India's ruling Congress Party-led alliance has scored victories in elections held in three states to choose local governments. The results will boost the Congress Party as it re-emerges as the country's major political force.

As results from elections held last week in three Indian states poured in Thursday, the Congress Party had much to celebrate.

The party and its allies scored clear wins in two states - the western state of Maharashtra, and the northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state. In the northern Haryana state, it emerged as the largest party, but failed to secure a majority. 

The largest and most influential¹ of these states is Maharashtra state, an industrialized region which is home to India's financial capital, Mumbai.

Ashok Chavan is the state's Chief Minister. "The government has worked in the last five years, and I feel that is the reason why we have been able to achieve this success," he said.

It is the second time this year that the Congress Party has emerged victorious² in key polls. Five months ago, the party scored an unexpectedly decisive victory in national elections, trouncing its main opposition³, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

Thursday's results are being seen as another major vote of confidence for the party, and its national leadership. Political analysts⁵ say they will also give a shot in the arm to the national government as it presses ahead with its policies, which include economic reforms.

Professor of History at Delhi University and political analyst⁴ Mahesh Rangarajan says the Congress Party's winning streak⁶ shows that it is re-emerging as a major political force.

"It is continuing to retain its hold on large and very popular states, so it is in the process of re-emerging as the pivot⁷ of the Indian political system," he said. "Overall this does indicate the secular⁸ shift of the voters towards the Congress as a party that can combine stability with inclusive growth. That trend which was clear in the recent general elections continues in the winter of 2009." 

After dominating Indian politics for decades, the Congress Party began to decline in the mid⁹ 1990's as the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party rose to power. But the BJP's series of losses in recent elections have dealt a blow to its ambitions of wielding¹⁰ more political influence in the country.

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

7 pivot   

v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的

参考例句：

• She is the central pivot of creation and represents the feminine aspect in all things.她是创造的中心枢轴，表现出万物的女性面貌。
• If a spring is present,the hand wheel will pivot on the spring.如果有弹簧，手轮的枢轴会装在弹簧上。

8 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

9 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

10 wielding   

手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）

参考例句：

• The rebels were wielding sticks of dynamite. 叛乱分子舞动着棒状炸药。
• He is wielding a knife. 他在挥舞着一把刀。