Really? Actually I am argueing more often against Gripen supporters.
It's not that the Gripen is a bad fighter, I think Saab made a very smart mix of cost-effectiveness and capability and they would have been the perfect partner to team up for Gripen/Tejas in the mid 80s, but for India it is clearly a no go now, for numerous reasons:
- LCA Tejas MK2 will be very similar
- Gripen don't offer enough difference in capability to be between LCA and MKI
- not a good choice for IN
- mainly a paperplane
- Swedens foreign policy during conflicts is dangerous for us
- no political, or strategic advantage and low offsets
- possibly not all weapons on offer
For smaller air foces, or at the lower end of big air forces it's a good choice, but we already have our low end fighter and there is not much left to give them the biggest fighter deal in history.
Regarding Rafale, yes I also say F18SH will win for political reasons, otherwise it must be Rafale, because be it from the point of view of our forces (IAF, IN, SFC), or our industry (Topsight HMS, Kaveri-Snecma and Shakti engines, Maitri SAM, Scorpene Subs, Helicopters...), it should be obvious that it is the best suited fighter and offers the best ToT, suited offset package.
Not to forget that France is a reliable and sanction proof strategic partner, so even the gov should be happy about it, although they can't help us to get the UNC seat.
However, the cost are an issue and these kind of deals are often decided by politics, so we will have to wait and see.