NArENDRA MODI has become India’s longest continuously serving democratically elected Prime Minister. It’s a creditable milestone. Twelve years at the helm have also seen the Bharatiya Janata Party exponentially expand its footprint across the length and breadth of the country. Three consecutive Lok Sabha victories exemplify a remarkable political consolidation, aided in no small measure by an uninspiring Opposition. West Bengal is just the latest in the BJP’s long list of unlikely electoral domination in regions where it once had limited resonance. For the party, Prime Minister Modi is the mascot that seldom fails the EVM test, while Home Minister Amit Shah promises big and delivers. The winning formula is a combination of personal charisma and relentless vote bank micro-management.
Even his staunchest critics would admit that Prime Minister Modi exudes energy and passion that is difficult to match. Criticism is but an essential component of a vibrant democracy. The Modi government can rightly pat itself on the back for a whole range of schemes, initiatives and decisive actions. There is visible vibrancy in several sectors, but the possibilities are endless. Much more is within reach, and expected from a stable, strong government. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ remains the engine and the guiding principle to realise the Viksit Bharat dream, but only if it stays true to its name. Partisanship and majoritarianism are self-damaging. The country seems to be in a constant state of confrontation that continues to weaken social cohesion, the foundational cornerstone of economic growth. It is undesirable, pointless and bothersome.
As the West Asia conflict unravels, India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, is no longer so popular among global investors. The march ahead is tough. Like the Zojila project, that was once unthinkable, there is hopefully light at the end of the tunnel.
