The survival of BJP-led government by winning No-confidence motion moved by the TDP and supported by other Opposition parties with a margin 325-126 in their favour reveals the fact that BJP has become a mass-based party with a charismatic leader. The BJP has a strong majority and the no-confidence motion posed no threat. Narendra Modi who took over as the 15th Prime Minister of India four years ago on May 26, 2014, it was evident from the day he took center-stage that the country had gravitated towards the man himself, not the party. Modi is such a politician who had made the politics so interesting and who single handedly dismantled congress all other pseudo secular parties. The BJP is unique among India’s political parties in that neither it nor its political predecessors were ever associated with the Congress. It is a now universally acknowledged that Modi is a good orator and he can keep his audience in thrall, glued to every word of his. The fact that people perceive this Govt to be honest is proved by its successive electoral victories when people endorse this government and its leadership. He is the first PM who has popularity all over world for his excellent and dynamic presentation making India very stable despite too much opposition. Clearly Modi has been able to persuade the people that his government is better than that of Congress, and that seems to be the sufficient condition for staying in power under the current rules of democracy in India. No politician in the past 30 years has occupied the public’s mind space as he has.
BJP president Amit Shah has rightly said that the defeat faced by the Opposition in the no-confidence motion in Parliament is just a “glimpse” of the 2019 Lok Sabha poll results and a reflection of people’s faith in the Modi government and its mantra of sabka saath sabka vikas. The Prime Minister not only kept his attack focused on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress but also used the floor test to make light of their challenge.
It is clear that only performers like Modi Government have won No Confidence. Mere criticism will not have desired effect if it is not substantiated. The message is very positive and people’s interest lies in the progress and not in unnecessary protest and slogans. The Congress is surely losing its power base across the country, and for good reason. The decline and fall of the Congress is an arresting story written time and again; but this time the party is at the nadir of its influence in national politics. India is completely changed in last 15 years and the new generation wants development and an aggressive bold minded leader like Modi. The aim of our PM is to make India a developed nation while bringing about a complete transformation in the lives of the people through good governance, development and pro-poor, pro-farmer and pro-women policies.
Modi has taken pains and has made commendable efforts to get a record break election where people has voted across caste, class, region and religion to unseat the Congress and bring in the BJP-led NDA government. This watershed moment in Indian politics catapults India on a takeoff path under the strong leadership of one individual who gave wings to the hope, aspirations and dreams of millions. Being a strong speaker, in the past few months he has been transformed into a hugely popular, even cult figure for many around India and is now widely admired by many who do not share his Hindu nationalism. He is a fighter and a decisive leader. It is time for India to move ahead and see off the Congress Party, which has ruled for most of the time since independence and yet has not got rid of abject poverty nor provided decent education, infrastructure and dignity to most Indians.
(This is the first part of the Diary and the latter part will continue tomorrow.)
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
