The previous few month’s developments have left a definite impression, even for its most bitter opponents, that the BJP has an unassailable lead over the Congress and the relaxation of the Opposition. The occasion appears too far forward, and its rivals too demoralised to enter the 2024 normal elections with any diploma of aggressive parity.
One might, at this level, cite an evergreen Aesop’s fable.
But it took an especially lazy and complacent hare and an extremely decided tortoise to spin a fable-maker’s creativeness right into a timeless story.
Neither is that this BJP beneath Narendra Modi lazy and complacent, nor does the Congress led by Rahul Gandhi and the assorted band of regional events resemble a resolute counterforce.
As issues stand now, the BJP has a 10-1 edge over the Opposition. Let us first record the 10 causes for giving Modi the early lead.
First, the spate of current election victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh — that features two states wherein specialists had written it off — has introduced great momentum to the BJP and demoralised its opponents. They testify to the would possibly and manoeuvrability of the occasion’s election equipment. It additionally proves PM Modi’s un-ebbing recognition as a result of, in all the states, the occasion went with out the CM face, staking out ‘Modi ki guarantee’ as its main line. This will rely much more in the normal elections.
Second, the win in the Supreme Court in opposition to those that challenged the repeal of Article 370 and Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir demonstrates the authorities’s willpower to ship on guarantees and reveals sections of the Opposition as unpatriotic.
Third, the Modi authorities’s turnaround level after the BJP’s electoral rout in Karnataka was the profitable Chandrayaan-3 touchdown. It introduced the nation collectively in celebration and pleasure and confirmed the authorities’s unwavering intent in area analysis and exploration.
Fourth, whereas the UPA authorities saved pulling the Women’s Reservation Bill out and in of the field however by no means had the liver to go it, the Modi authorities merely went forward and did it. It was the topping on a slew of women-centric schemes like Ujjwala, bogs, collateral-free credit score, Mahila Samman Savings Certificates and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matriva Abhiyan. Brace for a large allocation for ladies in the 2024 Budget.
Fifth is the all-round feel-good in the Indian economic system. From monetary establishments predicting a 7.5-8 per cent GDP progress in the subsequent fiscal to industrial manufacturing at a 16-month excessive, and from common month-to-month GST collections leaping to Rs 1.66 lakh crore to Make in India strides in defence, electronics and different sectors, India has turn into the economic system to observe for the world.
Sixth, the current state elections have revealed the deep inroads that the BJP has made into India’s tribal inhabitants. In Chhattisgarh, the place it had bought simply two out of 29 tribal seats final time, it regained 17 this 12 months. The occasion has chosen tribal chief Vishnu Deo Sai as the CM. Perhaps the strongest message that the Modi authorities despatched to this part was selecting Droupadi Murmu as the President of India.
Seventh edge is India’s management of G20 and its deft and muscular international relations. The highly effective optics of Narendra Modi welcoming world leaders in Delhi for the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky requesting him for mediation in the Russia-Ukraine battle, India’s strong help for Israel whereas extending humanitarian assist to Palestine in the Gaza warfare, standing as much as China and coldly watching Pakistan unravel trickles right down to the final Indian.
It has balanced its friendship with Russia, shopping for Russian oil and arms regardless of its shut alliance with the US tells one about the Modi institution’s dexterity in diplomacy.
Modi’s eighth edge is the lucky flipside of what it has been accused of covert killings of terrorists on international soil. When Canadian PM Justin Trudeau whined about India’s hand in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India stoutly denied it. But Indians had been pleasantly shocked that from a peacenik ‘soft state’, Bharat appeared to have remodeled right into a ‘hard state’ which doesn’t spare its enemies and is keen to get rid of them even inside ‘friendly countries’ which give these terrorists refuge and political area.
‘Unknown men’ killing enemies has now turn into an city legend. It has been strengthened by dozens of killings of Islamist and Khalistani terrorists inside Pakistan, Canada, Italy and different international locations. Indians who held Israel’s Mossad in awe now consider R&AW is doing a greater job.
Ninth is the crackdown on corruption. After ED unearthed crores price of money from the homes of TMC leaders and their consorts, the spectacle of discovering Rs 350 crore in money from Congress MP Dheeraj Sahu is unfolding. In days to come back, such raids by ED and CBI are more likely to intensify with outstanding leaders like Abhishek Banerjee going through arrest.
Tenth is the countdown to the grand opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, 500 years after it was demolished by Mughal emperor Babar’s commander Mir Baqi in 1528. The inauguration, slated on January 22, goes to submerge the nation in devotion fervour and energise the BJP’s Hindutva cadre and voters throughout India.
The one edge that the Opposition at present has is the Congress’s positive aspects in the South: election wins in Karnataka and Telangana. But it may very well be a pyrrhic victory. It strains the Congress relations with I.N.D.I.A. allies and makes them cautious of ceding regional area to their nationwide ally. Also, many regional events have already publicly complained about the Congress’s vanity and Big Brother perspective.
And anti-Hindu utterances by the southern ally DMK solely consolidates the Hindu vote in opposition to the Congress and the alliance elsewhere.
This is how issues stand now. In the coming months, the BJP might unbox a number of surprises. These might are available the Budget, or by way of direct profit switch, Uniform Civil Code, inhabitants invoice, schooling reforms, a bundle for Pasmanda Muslims and even some motion throughout the border.
The Opposition is an entire savannah behind in the race. The tortoise should have a slim likelihood, however provided that its shell, neck, head and legs begin strolling in a single path.
Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are private and solely that of the writer. They don’t essentially mirror News18’s views.
