CAPTAINS of industry and chambers of commerce share one thing in common: a strange optimism, that whichever party comes to power there will be no going back on economic reforms. Says Modi: "Any new government will have no option but to speed up the reforms to allow the enterprising spirit of Indian industrialists to reach its highest level so that the economy can grow at a rate of 8 to 10 per cent a year. That is the only way to eradicate poverty and raise the standard of living of the masses." Says Ashok Desai, Silicon Graphics Systems (India) managing director, SAARC region: "There will be a slight acceleration of economic reforms in the initial period, irrespective of which party comes to power."