Cover Story
Modi with a humble beginning and background generated in mahagathbandhan leaders . The tactful linkage of nationalism to national security , spirituality , religion and minimum Government swept away this coalition in all directions , including the Hindi-speaking belt . Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and others proved no competition to Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah ’ s strategy and careful handling of this election .
The Modi factor had influenced the political parties so much that they not only lost direction but converted the usually multi dimensional and multi issuesbased election into a single issue : How to stop Modi from regaining power . Congress leaders accepted that their only aim was to stop Modi from wresting the top seat .
The Bahujan Samaj Party ( BSP ) the Samajwadi Party even formed an alliance to check the rise of a single person . But these groups easily forgot that it was Modi , who called the shots in this much-hyped and personalised election . The violence in West Bengal was yet another example of the fear of Modi and BJP gaining an upper hand in Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee ’ s bastion , which to some extent , proved true . The landslide win is an example of Modi ’ s clever rhetoric , vision , connect with people and affirmative approach .
The issues of jobs , poverty , infrastructure , development ,
building of youth , which should have been the key to any national election , became secondary and hatred towards Modi became the primary goal for the Opposition . This , in fact , worked towards Modi ’ s advantage . As for a large number of people , particularly in rural areas the numerous schemes like the supply of cooking gas without black marketing , toilets for convenience , medical schemes , cleanliness drive , connect through ‘ Mann Ki Baat ,’ ease of doing things like passport services , makeover of cities , infrastructure development , digitalisation , transparency , reduced corruption and red tapism , Government e-market procurement scheme , competition for better facilities and desire to bringing international standards in education by improving quality facilitated by the Modi Government became a very admirable figure among a large number of people . Though voting percentage was low , but people preferred to ignore the pains of demonetisation , Goods and Services Tax and even the politics of caste and religion and supported Modi unconditionally . This was all possible due to the policies of inclusive development .
The bold foreign policy steps like Balakot strike , face-to-face resistance at Doklam at Ladakh border with China , refusal to participate in Belt and Road Initiative summit of China despite Chinese persistence , oil imports with Iran despite US pressures , getting Masood Azhar declared as international terrorist even after China ’ s reluctance , participation in multinational naval and military exercises and talking equally with all powers to advance India ’ s interests earned Modi a different kind of admiration and image of being a tough leader . No leader in India has earned such ire and adulation , therefore , this phenomenon is quite unique . �
8 Legacy India | June 2019 www . legacyindia . in