As BJP attempts an unusual but sombre attempt to celebrate 7 years of Modi government, an offensive narrative is getting created in parallel to analyse and showcase the failures of the Prime Minister.
A natural (or man-made) calamity has put the world leaders in the dock and India is no different,
especially when the population is so high and distressed, opposition finding an issue which is bigger than Rafale and media having an opportunity to get its pound of flesh for all the ignorance it has got since 2014.
With 3 years to go for the Central elections, it’s an open game and not the right time to paint a disaster on the wall for the master strategist Modi. The last 21 years have shown, how the setbacks were converted into opportunities by the Leader. This time too, the quick learner will find his way out of all the difficulties posted unless the opposition or the media can build a narrative and a leader who can take head-on in the Modi territory called as ‘People’.
Every leader has a shelf life, but when it comes to the replacement of any larger than life persona, the alternative needs to be a fresh face, who can cut across party cadre and strike a chord beyond territorial compulsions or preferences.
The downfall for Congress had started way back in the 1990s. A depleted opposition, especially the GOP could never regain its glory even though it can claim it's been out of power for the last 7 years only.
Congress and BJP have enjoyed power through North and West with coalitions across the South. However, with UP gone, it’s going to be a nearly impossible task for Congress to come back to the podium on its own.
Congress as usual is not looking beyond RaGa and the granddaughter has not grasped the pulse of the people. It looks beyond their charisma to pose any challenge to NaMo.
Uttar Pradesh was always the route to LKM.
Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati got full terms as Chief Ministers of UP. However, instead of growing, they have found themselves more into oblivion than the limelight. With wiped out background, they can at max dream it big to be back as the Leader of the state.
Bengal elections have given new ammunition to media and opposition parties to start a new power struggle for the Centre.
With anti-NaMo agenda and zeal to find a new narrative, only a bunch of leaders stand tall or have an aim beyond state politics.
The top amongst the lot is Naveen Patnaik. An ideal leader, who believes in a federal structure and keeps giving his relentless service to the people of Orissa. With almost 2 decades of unblemished performance and governance, he has the persona to grow beyond state politics. However his reluctance to take sides, being content in Orissa and age not getting any younger, he seems to be on his retirement path in Bhuvaneshwar, albeit till people keep him voting back to power in the State.
Arvind Kejriwal is another intelligent and ambitious politician. However, he seems to be stuck in the media glamour who prefers his paradise and still nurse ambitions for the top role. A leader has to grow beyond his state by vision, political acumen and statesmanship and not by playing to media. He does not seem to enjoy any support outside his cocoon. For sure, the other opposition parties will cut him to size even if he tries to make it big.
Mamatha is the only leader who was successful in the last 7 years to prove a point against Modi on a big landscape. Winning a state as large as Bengal has given her a tremendous head start. However, her last stint at the centre whether NDA or UPA was all about swinging moods. A nation can change its mood but not the leader. With her tantrums on a higher pitch, it will always be difficult for her to hold a coalition together. Instead of soothing down into a stateswoman, she is getting entangled in her image, temper and attitude. The attributes are bound to impact her national ambitions, except for those who build the ‘Defeat Modi’ platform.
This leaves only one leader, the Maratha Strongman Sharad Pawar to be a potential national alternative. However, with the MVA coalition, a three-party jumble will mean his party contesting only 1/3 of Maharashtra Lokasabha seats in 2024. If the parties decide to fight separately, erosion of the party base will impact him higher. With age and no substantial MPs on his side, it will take his across the party skills to fulfil life long dream of being an incumbent of LKM.
2024 looks tough for NaMo, but with the opposition not learning its lessons from history and the country not willing for 3rd Front fiasco after VP Singh, Gujral and Devegowda failures, it is bound to be a challenge for the opposition. Hopefully, there won't be any repeat of Charan Singhs and Chandrashekhar's who's ambitions stood above the cause of the nation.
It now depends to be seen how NaMo manages the damage(image) control and if the opposition can find a new national hero ready to take on iconic Modi. Time is sleeping out of hands for those in and out of power for sure.
On a lighter side, the number 13 is proving to be bête noire for the BJP once again. Vajpayee Government lasted for 13 days and then 13 months.
This is the 13th year of BJP in the power😜
Disclaimer: The article is a self-analysis of the current political situation and does not affiliate with any political party or a forum.
Image Courtesy: Internet
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