Modi takes control

Mr.Modi will become India's 15th Prime Minister today .Modi  is a practical politician . Modi was vociferous in his election speeches against Pakistan and UPA's policy of appeasement with Pak. Similarly Modi was critical of SL & PAK for arresting Indian fishermen .But level headed Modi knew election rhetoric's are different from  ground realities and wants to set the rcord straight before  he takes the saddle and is in the driver's seat . He has extended an olive branch to all SAARC leaders for his swearing in ceremony despite objections from some quarters . But Modi's diplomacy paid when both SL & PAK decided to release arrested Indian fishermen in their countries as a goodwill gesture . One sincerely hopes Modi would be  able to turn this initial euphory to something worthwhile in India's relations with these neighbouring nations . While I appreciate the steadfast resolution of politicians like Vaiko on his ideology and political orientation,he must understand diplomatic parleys are required between nations to resolve issues of this nature . The disposition shown by the heads of the two visiting leaders of SL & PAK could augur a new beginning to resolve issues between these nations .Some how I feel Modi is a politician  from India ready for a bigger international stage .

Modi means business and is a shrewd politician.I think he believes in heuristic approaches for problem solving . From what I learnt from newspapers ,he is clubbing related ministries ,may be with a view to deal issues at a single window . He is trying to engage experts in relevant fields under each ministry .I also find a sense of urgency in his approach to get things done rightly and also quickly . He may not vacillate to take decisions if it is beneficial to the nation. I understand he did not hesitate to demolish 600 Hindu temples in Ahmedabad to clear road obstructions . Throughout his hectic election campaigns he was focussed .It is an hallmark of an astute administrator . Now he has to deliver his promises. I was very impressed when he said in one of the election meetings that after 60 months he would give his report card on performance to the people of India .Unless he was so conident of his performance ,I don't think he would have uttered it . In one of the election rallies he said the Chief ministers and Prime minister should work together to make things happen . May be he has an all pervasive development plan for India in mind . I read from papers Modi has an ambitious plan for  24 x 7 power supply across India .  This could surely be the engine for growth .Best wishes to Modi and his team to usher in a new India .

Election 2014- India votes for a change

Indian voters have emphatically voted for a change . The corrupt and the inefficient have been voted out . The congress has been decimated . It is an unprecedented rout for the congress .Congress has drawn a blank in Delhi and Tamil Nadu . As expected in the combined AP (Seemandra and Telengana)it is almost a rout for the congress,securing just one seat. As expected states like TN,WB and Odisha were not much affected by the Modi wave . Regional leaders in these states were effective foils to BJP and Modi. These three local stalwarts winning 89 (37,34,18)seats between them is an impressive tally by any standards .Congress may not even get the opposition party status ,since its tally falls below the mandatory 10 % of the total seats to claim the opposition party status . It is good to see Rahul and Sonia owning up responsibility for the massive defeat of congress .This should pave way for examining their conduct in the last 10 years and take restorative measures to bring the party back to limelight .India badly needs congress as a strong and viable alternative in future elections.It is up to Congress to enumerate its deficiencies and overcome them .

For a party that ruled the nation for the last 10 years it is surely a dismal performance . Out of the 48 seats congress has managed to win, 21 seats (12 & 9) have come for 2 southern states of Kerala and Karnataka ,where congress is the ruling party. This means from the rest of the country,congress could get a meagre 27 seats . In another congress ruled state Maharashtra the BJP has almost trounced  the congress.In Maharashtra congress has managed to get just 1 seat ,a drab performance . In  J&K also Congress and Farooq Abdulla's NC have drawn a blank .It is no surprise that the DMK had to face the 'Modi and Lady' brunt .The AAP making a foray  in to the national scene too early, has also learnt the political turf at the national level is very different . In fact in one of my earlier posts when AAP made a dramatic debut in Delhi assembly elections ,I had stated this could happen if AAP enters the national scene too ealry.

Most importantlyBJP winning 73 out of the 80  seats in UP , 31 out of 40 in Bihar and 42 out of 48 in Maharashtra is impressive . In Chattisgarh, Goa, Rajasthan and Gujarat it was a clean sweep by BJP. BJP front has opened account in TN and WB securing 2 each in these states,two states mostly unaffected by the Modi wave . The only aberration for BJP could be the defeat of Arun Jaitely in Punjab . However Jaitely is a Rajya Sabha member and could be inducted in to the cabinet .

The most important fall out of this election is, after 1984 elections a national party has secured a clear majority to form the government . This is good for the nation .The clear majority will ensure there is no 'governance paralysis' .But regional parties like AIADMK,TMC,BJD,TDP and TRS have emerged stronger and can not be written off .The communists continued their downward slide .

Congress has to do lots of introspection . Turning a blind eye to all round corruption,Administrative inefficiency,not lending ear to regional leaders ,snubbing regional leaders of their own party and that of allies, disregarding regional sentiments with contempt and dynastic politics have derailed the congress government.Will congress learn a lesson ?.Every state wants their regional leader to be all powerful . It is a regional pride. whether it is a national party or a regional party,the local leader should have a say in national politics .A local leader of a regional party becomes popular when his clout becomes indispensable at national level . Similarly in the case of a national party ,there should be a strong and charismatic regional leader to combat the regional parties . Jayalalitha ,Mamta and Navin Patnaik have proved they are strong regional leaders .In the absence of such charismatic leaders in national parties in each state ,it would be difficult to sustain the party as a force to reckon with at the regional level. Congress has time and again failed to learn this lesson despite severe drubbing at the hands of strong regional parties . Even during the Nehru era ,perhaps the only period during which congress had a truly national presence ,there were strong charismatic leaders at state levels . The present day congress leadership is wary of strong state leaders and systemically stymies state leaders .This could be a fall out of the dynastic politics . In fact it should be the other way .Congress should promote strong regional leaders .At this juncture Congress needs articulate leaders at all levels through out the nation to build the party again at grass root levels . Perhaps they may have to reinvent the wheel . The classic example of a strong regional leader upstaging at the national level could be none other than Modi .

BJP should live up to the expectations of the people of India . They should ensure a corruption free ,transparent ,efficient ,matter of fact government that is development oriented fair and equitable to all sections of the people . The general public also expects the elected representatives to be humility personified and shun arrogant superiority to disdain the views of others as unworthy. I hope on 24 th May when the baton change hands, the new set of sprinters would take the nation forward .Congress along with other parties should play the role of a constructive opposition and try to rebuild its lost glory.