The Bard has said tellingly in King Lear, "When we are sick in fortune-often the surfeits of our own behaviour-we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon and stars as if we were villains by necessity, fools by heavenly compulsion, knaves, thieves and traitors by spherical predominance... An admirable evasion of man to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star."

That may be a thought acceptable in rational times or when faced with an overwhelming bout of introspection. But it is not the first thought in a mind that is willing to stoop to conquer. It may appear to be an irony that in the 21st century, when wireless is the medium and idiom digital, there is a constituency that lays much store by astrology. Rulers of the princely states and holders of privy purses employed men with that third eye for the future. Even after five decades of democracy, the voter often wonders if it is chance or ability that determines the choice of rulers.

The best and the biggest, the Reagans, the later Gandhis, leaders of men and nations are known to have a hidden inclination towards alien thoughts. Thoughts that help them vanquish the demons in the mind before they slay the demons on the field. When winning or losing is determined not just by how good you are or how good your opponent's opponent is but by sundry extraneous factors, not just mortals but even titans seek the soothing solace of a peep into the future.

— By Shankkar Aiyar

PARAPPANANGADI UNNIKRISHNAN
Personal astrologer to Jayalalithaa and Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga

"Vajpayee is unlikely to lose his present position until February 2006."

Who will be the next prime minister?

ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE His period of luck which began at 76 will continue till February 2006. He is blessed with Akhandasamrajya yoga and Sarabha yoga.

Can Sonia become the PM? NOT NOW Has capability and fame but wrong advisers and no recognition in her own camp. She is under the negative influence of the planet Mercury which will continue till she is 65.

Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? POSSIBLE Can become the prime minister by February 2006 when Vajpayee retires. His lucky period astrologically described as Vyazha dasa will last till November 20, 2008.

JAYALALITHAA Has an extremely fortunate horoscope but may suffer temporary setback until August.

GAYATRI DEVI VASUDEV
Editor, The Astrological Magazine, Bangalore

"Since it is under Ashtam Shani the BJP will lose a leading light of the party."

Next prime minister: CANNOT COMMIT but the BJP will come to power after making several compromises.

Will the government last the full term? YES Based on the party's (BJP's) chart the government will last the full term.

Can Sonia become the PM? NO The Congress will face setbacks and there will be a change in the leadership.

SHARAD PAWAR'S political life is revived.

MAYAWATI will be in the wilderness for some more time.

N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU will come back.

JAYALALITHAA is going strong.

UTTAR PRADESH could see a change.

NAVIN KHANNA
Delhi-based astrologer-scholar reads the future for P3 People and politicians.

"I see reason for concern about a threat to General Musharraf's life."

Next prime minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE

Can Sonia become the PM? NO She is not strong enough to head the government. On the other hand, Varun Gandhi has a powerful and promising horoscope.

Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? TOUGH It will be difficult for Advani to make it to the top job as there are stronger horoscopes elsewhere.

Will the government last the full term? YES Despite problems between March and August 2005, Vajpayee will be in the seat of power till his last day.

SEAT PREDICTION: BJP will be the biggest party with 220 seats. The Congress will lose and may go below 100.

N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU will return as cm and do even better.

MAYAWATI will always be a force in Uttar Pradesh.

MULAYAM SINGH YADAV will have an average run.

SHARAD PAWAR Average run for him too.

VIDWAN V. LAKSHMANAN
National vice-president, Indian Council of Astrological Sciences

"The Congress can come to power before the new Lok Sabha completes its term."

Next prime minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE Jupiter dasa, which has just begun, is very favourable for him.

Can Sonia become the PM? VERY UNLIKELY Manmohan Singh or P. Chidambaram, however, can become the prime minister.

L.K. ADVANI has chances of becoming the prime minister, thanks to the good positions Jupiter and Saturn are in. But Mars and Sun are in weak positions, therefore, he may not continue in office because of some internal conflicts.

N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU'S victory is almost assured.

JAYALALITHAA'S fame and importance will increase.

SANATKUMAR DAYASHANKAR SHASTRI
Ahmedabad-based scholar of astrology

"Next July or August Vajpayee will make way for Advani as planets are well placed for the latter."

Next prime minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE But he may have to do some "political cobbling" to form the government. In July-August 2005 he may make way for Advani.

Can Sonia become the PM? NO Her stars will remain in the darkest possible zone till September 2004.

L.K. ADVANI Planets are very powerfully placed in his kundli, from which he will derive immense political strength.

MULAYAM SINGH YADAV will do badly.

SHARAD PAWAR may just about lose the polls.

N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU will do well.

VASHUDHA WAGH
Mumbai-based soothsayer, a favourite with Maharashtra's heavyweights

"Chances are bright for a third front government backed by the Congress."

Next prime minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE If the allies stick together. Chances are Chandrababu Naidu, Jayalalithaa and Mayawati may tilt the balance.

Can Sonia become the PM? NOT YET Sonia will emerge more powerful but cannot become the PM as yet.

Will the government last the full term? YES

Seat prediction BJP 195 seats, NDA 280, Cong-plus 260.

MULAYAM SINGH YADAV can become prime minister one day.

SHARAD PAWAR will land a plum job.

JAYALALITHAA will play a key role in the next government.

MAYAWATI will get maximum seats in UP, emerge powerful.

GEETA SEN
Personal astrologer to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other senior leaders

"There are no inner party problems or leadership challenge for the BJP."

Next prime minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE This will be his last term as PM. There is no cause for worry about his health, no inner party problems or leadership challenge.

Can Sonia become the PM? NEVER But will remain president of the Congress for 10 more years. Her daughter Priyanka Vadra could, however, get the top job when she is 47. Rahul Gandhi will not contest elections.

Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? NEVER but will continue to be in politics.

Will the government last the full term? YES

Seat prediction: BJP will improve its tally, the Congress will remain the same. None will get an outright majority.

CONGRESS will come to power but in the next polls. However, it won't be a Gandhi but a non-Gandhi who was a member of the Rao cabinet who will be prime minister.

KUSUM BHANDARI
Astrologer-educationist based in Kolkata, also writes occasionally

"A gloomy incident with some bloodshed will bring down the government in 2006."

Next prime minister: Most likely ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE An old man of the arts will rule. The next government will be a coalition with no single decision maker.

Can Sonia become the PM? NO No woman will get the post. It will be a native inclined towards religion.

Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? NOT NOW

MULAYAM SINGH YADAV cannot be king by himself.

SHARAD PAWAR'S future is not very bright for him.

N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU may not return to power.

L.D. MADAN
A favourite of the netas forecasts the future of Delhi's rich and powerful

"It is unlikely that Sonia Gandhi will ever become the prime minister."

Next prime minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE

Can Sonia become the PM? NO

Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? VERY LIKELY After Vajpayee it looks like Advani.

Will the government last the full term? YES The BJP will have the largest number of seats.
-with bureau inputs