By S. Sivathasan –
S. Sivathasan
Quite a fruitful six more months lie between now and April-May 2019. A judicious verdict on Modi’s performance from May 2014 will then be delivered. An electorate of 600 million voting strength – the largest in the world – will discharge its duty and decide on the next custodians of power. These voters are not a mass of numbers but a body of discriminate beings who have experienced the beneficial presence of a performing government.
Widening Disparity
A people who previously were frustrated with a lack lustre term of the Congress administration have now in contrast, an India on fast forward mode. Will 31.3% of votes for BJP, translating to 282 seats in the Lok Sabha in 2014, shift camp to lose the growth momentum? Can Congress with 19.5% votes and 44 seats magnetize splinters into coherence and compactness? There was a vote gap of 65 million and seat swings of +166 for BJP and –162 for Congress. In a race of differently abled contestants, is there a chance for the poorly endowed? Decidedly not is a percipient reply. Why? The disparity has grown from 2014 and is growing still. The tilting of the balance will be spectacular after dissolution, the campaigning and the Manifesto.
Lok Sabha Elections 2014 and 2019
By mid-2013, when Modi was elected to head the BJP, it came to be known that victory was his. Within six months he blazoned forth as the leader of the nation. This writer wrote in Colombo Telegraph, in the first week of February 2014, that the “BJP and Modi have approached 280 seats or more. The Congress has hit 100 or less”. Actuality was 282 seats for BJP and 44 for Congress. Consistently from that date to this, it has been maintained that BJP and Modi will go beyond 300. What made for a correct early forecast? Modi has had the advantage of an unimpeachable record of achievement as Chief Minister of Gujarat. Graduating from state to nation, he more than measured up to the demands of a national leader. He responded to the international challenges, made his impact felt and has become a world figure. After Nehru and Indira Gandhi, he has elevated India to great power status. Discounting all explanations, one may hold with Field Marshall Montgomery who wrote a book on Leadership, that “It is the MAN”. With such credentials Modi seeks approval of the first term and endorsement for the second.
On the threshold of 2019
A General Election is always for the choice of the Prime Minister. The Charisma of Modi, kinetic power of BJP and the organizational caliber of Amit Shah make for a rare amalgam. A cabinet of talent presides successfully over the destinies of the country. They have dissipated inertia and infused purpose. Revolutionary changes have come about in the financial sector, with Arun Jaitley being the shining star and Modi as the able helmsman. At a phase in development when infrastructure calls for high speed delivery, Nitin Gadkari as Minister of Road Transport and Highways, has shown his mettle. High visibility roads and highways have made their mark with a 73% increase in the last four years compared to the previous four. Impressions apart is clog freed arterial lifeline for seamless flow of economic life. The Defense portfolio at this critical time is in the hands of the no-nonsense Minister, Nirmala Sitaraman. In just one year she has imparted a visible dynamism to ‘Make in India’ credo. In the Defense Corridors, investment magnitudes will be known next year and physical progress seen thereafter. India’s enemies see today, a Minister of Defense, deadlier than most previous ones. Armed Forces have developed a fresh confidence and the people a higher sense of security.
Advantage of a One Term Incumbency
Besides the above and the unmentioned many, stands out the Health Insurance Programme to benefit 500 million citizens per year and that too to the tune of Rs.500,000/- per family. This marvel even to the world, inaugurated on 20th September 2018 is now under implementation. A catalogue of achievements of the past in the media and a narration from platforms apart, is perception in the mass mind. Ten days ago was a political meeting in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh which recorded a million plus turnout. With such numbers the Convention got into ‘World Book of Records’. This is a mind battering augury to blow the confidence of the contenders arraigned against the BJP. To take Modi and BJP forward, a unique asset is the untainted, successful, one term INCUMBENCY FACTOR. As is well known, only a mediocre, impotent, motion less, non-performing, corrupt caucus miscalled government is rejected at a general election. Never a brief span of a dazzling spark. The Bhopal meeting, was a mammoth endorsement on benign governance for over four years. The call now is for a REPEAT of more of the same.
Modi’s Strategies
“If you aim at the stars, you hit at the trees”. This home truth learnt at school, is not unknown to Modi and his talented lieutenants. When challenges created the need, the hour produced the man. He conceptualized and led, the party organized and mature public and private sectors delivered. In every sector, material to better living, Modi government prescribed ambitious norms and envious targets. His achievement was in blasting the cast iron mould of timid, modest targets suited to a lumbering economy. The approach of placing it on vaulting heights, he energized all segments in development, to pull together and grow in tandem.
Demonetization, black money probes, GST, comprehensive digitalization programmes, High Speed Rail, clean India, smart cities, toilets for the poor, houses for the homeless, availability of electricity to all, ‘Make in India’ agenda and above all Health Insurance for half a billion citizens are among the stunning ongoing programmes. Two years ago he posed the question, “where do I get the money from” and answered “by stopping corruption”.
The Lodestar is the Economy
As earth shattering as the above are many an achievement realized by meticulous work. Development is all embracing, yet GDP and Growth rates are key indicators. In year 2014, GDP was$ 2.039 trillion and in 2018. it was $ 2.848 trillion. Annual growth rate of India in 2018 was 8.20% and for China 6.70%. India had world’s highest rate. These statistics signifying a huge range of goods and services are increasingly available to the masses. They take them closer to the government that delivered them, not to the opposition.
India has emerged as the world’s 6th largest economy. World Bank forecasts 7.3% growth rate for India in 2018/19, making it the fastest growing economy. Growth forecast by IMF is 7.8% for 2019, while Global Economic Rate is to go down to 3% in 2019. All this at a time when India faces 1.325 billion problems. The allusion is to Nehru’s quip that he had 600 million problems – “every Indian is a problem to me”. China had 700 million at that time. Deng Xiao Ping once asked the Governor of Hong Kong, ‘Shall we exchange places?”. Now Rahul is asking Modi! The country knows better as to who is best.
Promise and Fulfillment
What the Manifesto promised the tenure fulfilled. The BJP in its Manifesto of 2014, had this powerful message. “BJP believes a resurgent India must get its rightful place in the comity of nations and international institutions”. The nation placed its trust and stands vindicated. Bertrand Russel wrote decades ago that anyone reading German philosophical writings of the nineteenth century, will come to know their feeling that Germans were a great people denied their place under the sun. A similar discernment Modi had of Indian aspirations and he set out to realize it. To the Indian mind he infused a fresh confidence and imparted the need for self-reliance. ‘Make in India’ exhortation resonating well with the Indian mind is the outcome.
Lok Sabha 2019
The general election looked forward to by India and the world is looming on the horizon. The ruling BJP brims with confidence from a commendable record, while the opposition remains a disparate group of discordant formations. When the Communists were decimated in the Tripura state election of 2018, wind direction became clear. Parties that feared an eclipse, got into a huddle for at least an amorphous grouping. But particularist ambitions are keeping them apart. The 2014 Lok Sabha election was preceded by 5 state elections. The same way 5 elections are scheduled now. Electioneering has thus commenced in earnest together with articles, debates, discussions and pre-poll predictions. An optimistic 300+ for BJP is an assessment for the moment. The picture will be clear by February 2019.
DW / October 7, 2018
How has the Indian Economy Fared Under Modi Govt.
On its fourth anniversary, the Narendra Modi government’s economic legacy appears to be under threat because of unfavourable global conditions and a sluggish rural economy
When the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government took charge of India’s destiny four years ago, the Indian economy was still recovering from the mini-crisis of 2013 – when the rupee had crashed after India’s twin deficits (current account deficit and fiscal deficit) ballooned out of control. Since then, the government has succeeded in consolidating the steps taken during the fag end of the previous government’s term to control the twin deficits of current account and fiscal, and to bring down inflation.
The government’s decision to keep farm support prices in check has helped lower inflation, and inflationary expectations. The fall in global commodity prices also helped the cause, as it helped tame inflation even as it allowed the government to raise fuel taxes to finance its expenditure.
But as it nears the finishing line, the government’s key achievement of taming inflation seems to be under threat, because of both global and domestic factors. Crude oil prices have risen sharply over the past few months, raising concerns about the twin deficits once again. And farm distress has led to a sharp rise in agrarian riots, prompting the government to announce an expansion and hike in farm support prices, which could stoke the fires of inflation once again.
Although there is some evidence to suggest that rural fortunes may be reviving now, it is not clear whether the revival will sustain, and if it will persuade the government to give up on its ambitions of an expansive farm support regime.
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SJ / October 7, 2018
“Demonetization, black money probes, GST, comprehensive digitalization programmes, High Speed Rail, clean India, smart cities, toilets for the poor, houses for the homeless, availability of electricity to all, ‘Make in India’ agenda and above all Health Insurance for half a billion citizens are among the stunning ongoing programmes.”
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The writer must be depending on BJP/RSS channels for information.
Demonetization was a flop that hurt many who depend heavily on cash economy, and did not achieve any of its claimed purposes. Black money probes have not very far, in fact the regime is busy protecting some of the worst rogues. GST has hurt the economy more than it helped.
I can go on.
The Indian economy is not a fraction as bright as the pro-Modi media claimed that it will be in 2015.
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Native Vedda / October 8, 2018
SJ
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“Demonetization was a flop that hurt many who depend heavily on cash economy, and did not achieve any of its claimed purposes.”
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However aren’t you proud of weeping widow’s merry men imposing demonetization in this island in the early 1970s. Those who had black money hired agents to queue up in front of banks two days before the measures were announced. It hit the ordinary people than the rich.
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This is exactly what happened albeit in much larger scale in India.
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Its time you reviewed how this island was ruined by the weeping widow and her merry men and by her husband.
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Vinolika Kudukedu / October 7, 2018
Field Marshall Montgomery is of no match to Field Sarath Fonseka. I hope the writer will accept
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CHANAKYAN / October 8, 2018
Vinolika
In this petty little well which frog will not admit that the sink hole has not produced mighty great Field Marshals, mightier than Hannibal and Napoleon?. If the writer will accept, he would not have been born in this paradise.
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sinhalese buddhist / October 7, 2018
What about the allegations of being the Mastermind behind anti-Muslim violence in Gujrat? A “Great” man?
As long as the money keeps coming, everything is ok?
Sri Lankans who supported MR also thought so.
India and Modi want to delay and prevent SL from developing ports and highways, so India can catch up with modernizing their ports.
They also want to control SL airspace with Palaly and Mattala under their grasp.
And to advance their economy, an FTA that pits Sri Lankan workers (both high-end and low) against Indians.
Regional power projections or bullying?
In the meanwhile what are our politicians doing? Milking the system with bribes, luxury chairs, vehicles and smoky mirrors.
Sri Lanka will not be an independent country with these politicians, even if it remains one country!
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JD / October 7, 2018
I have seen MODI travedlling home inside a train after the days duty. Only other politician that was silimar to him was Ahmedinajah. Sri lankan politicians need foru wheel drive, super luxury utility sports vehicles to come to work and go home. Tweo always in a raw, in case one brand new vehicle breaks down. they always go out of colombo trips in Raw of vehicles and two super luxury vehicles but they fly in a newly arrived helicopters as the motor traffic in colombo and suburbs is too much for them. ANYWAY, MODI had lot of problems . His lok Sabha was full of THIEVES who scuttled his CASH RENEWAL PROGRAM. THEY FOUND IT AND BOUGHT REAL ESTATE IN GOVA. CIA agents in lok Sabha wanted bit coins for rural poor instead of the cash. for his rural program he had said his objective is to double the revenue of rural farmers. What does sri lanka do. they point fingers at each others if not the previous govt. Most recently, politicians ask I KNOW ALL THESE THINGS. VOTE ME PRESIDENT FOR THE NEXT TERM IW ILL DO ALL THOSE. Who knows he may be thinking next time, I won a second why don’t i change the constiotution replace the 18th amendment so i will be the eternal president. now mahinda rajapkse gets angry as he wants some years make his children floats again. Ranil knows at least colombo tamils and muslims with ltte money he will float.
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