- While a detailed analysis of the losses faced by the BJP is important, it is paramount that a strategic focus needs to be given to the future of Indian polity and governance.
- The path ahead for Viksit Bharat and the ‘Amrit Kaal 2047’ vision of Modi will be riddled with numerous political challenges, though not unsurmountable as shown during the Vajpayee era.
- India must set an example as a vibrant and robust democracy, which operates through the politics of consensus, and not through the politics of conflict.
- The NDA government must focus on making Viksit Bharat a reality for the upcoming generations, as this is the most important aspiration for every Indian today.
The Lok Sabha election of 2024, has produced interesting and intriguing results. These results have turned out to be quite contrary to the expectations of all the poll predictions and forecasts. But the voter has given his verdict, and one must accept it with all humility and dignity. This was indeed a fiercely fought election, in a hyper-charged atmosphere where both the BJP and its opponents were in a mode of a full-fledged electoral war.
However, the results have given a thumbs up to the NDA, but have downsized the BJP and ended an era of its predominance. While a detailed analysis of the losses faced by the BJP is important, it is paramount that a strategic focus needs to be given to the future of Indian polity and governance. Because, at this moment, no one can change the verdict, but one must chart the future course of action in the policy-making domain. It is well established that stable policy continuity also ensures stability in the growth and development of a country.
BJP is not new to coalition politics. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had mastered the art and craft of Coalition politics carrying 26 parties along with the BJP, to complete a full term as a non-congress Prime Minister in India’s politics. During Vajpayee’s tenure, India experienced a new wave of development programs, policy shifts and a recharged atmosphere with good governance. It is said by prominent economists and financial experts that Vajpayee’s NDA government had played a major role in the Indian Economy attaining a high growth path. Despite several external challenges and conflict situations, India’s foreign and strategic policy was steered in a productive direction. Towards the end of Vajpayee’s tenure, India had developed a bold and confident image of taking on the twenty-first century, with a reformist agenda, embedded in its governance model. The present BJP needs to turn back to its pages of history to unlearn and relearn the game of coalition politics.
There is growing instability in the world with issues of race, gender, identity, and nationalism becoming prevailing in ethnic, religious and cultural spheres and have become critical stimulants in our day-to-day discourse in domestic politics across the world.
Nitin Gadkari famously said that politics is a game of compromises, compulsions and limitations. Now BJP needs to adapt and become adept with the beginning of a new era of coalition politics. It has to be cautious about implementing some of its big-ticket reforms and tall poll promises. In issues such as the Uniform Civil Code UCC, Judicial Reforms and Agricultural reforms such as the possibility of the reintroduction of farm bills, the BJP might face the challenge of garnering the support of its NDA allies. On sensitive religious issues as well, the BJP has to walk a tightrope. Modi 3.0 has to make compromises on certain implementation policy measures, probably has to navigate the hurdles of the coalition compulsions, and there might be a rollback of certain ambitious reform roadmap which PM Modi had indicated in his recent editorial in Indian Express. The path ahead for Viksit Bharat and the ‘Amrit Kaal 2047’ vision of Modi will be riddled with numerous political challenges.
Several political analysts, psephologists, election observers and prominent members of the commentariat of the ruling and the opposition’s ideological camps are occupied in making sense of the electoral mandate of 2024. On the other hand, if we visualise the strategic macro picture in India and the world, there is a growing instability in the world order. The issues of race, gender, and identity, with the crossroads of nationalism, and transnationalism lingering with the quest for identity in ethnic, religious and cultural spheres have become the critical stimulants in our day-to-day discourse in domestic politics across the world. But this doesn’t give any government a free pass to compromise on the nature of our political representation, participation of the people in the decision-making, adherence to the rule of law and constitutionalism, which are the fundamental principles of a working liberal democracy.
Though there is not a single case of discrimination found in any of the Modi government’s schemes on the grounds of caste and religion, the popular narrative of polarization seems to have struck chords with the voters.
In a world where the nature of democratic politics, has been fragmented and polarized in most countries, the conflicts between states to establish their supremacy will further escalate, making the world more hostile and difficult for cooperation. India must stand out as a glaring example of a country that can straddle through successfully with a democratic coalition. As a nation, adherence to its principle values such as democratic freedoms including the freedom of speech and expression, garnering its composite culture and pluralism, the promotion, sustenance and safeguarding of religious and linguistic harmony ensuring that every individual attains the goal of economic self-reliance, which is pivotal for the growth of a country.
PM Modi did vouch for Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas, attempting to win over the confidence of more than 140 crore Indians, and in all the welfare schemes implemented by the Modi Government, there is not even a single case of discrimination that has been found on the grounds of caste and religion. But the popular narrative of polarization unduly seems to have struck chords with the voter. This is the reason why the BJP needs to be more cautious in the future and while in government should try to minimise its compromises on development and reform roadmaps. An economically empowered Indian, with a good standard of living and a decent quality of life will certainly drive the nation in a progressive direction. The NDA government must try to achieve this in its third stint, moving the nation to a much better place in the world. Viksit Bharat, or a developed India, should be a reality for the upcoming generations, as this is the most important aspiration for every Indian today.
India must set an example as a vibrant and robust democracy, which operates through the politics of consensus, and not through the politics of conflict. Consensus for a new India and a Resurgent India must be the common goal for all the NDA partners, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Coalition dharma must be ‘the’ doctrine for the BJP to operate a stable government.
(Viswapramod is an International Affairs analyst and contributes regularly to magazines and portals. He has an MA in International Relations. Views expressed are the author’s own)
Viswapramod is a PhD Scholar at the Department of International Studies and Political Science, Christ University, Bangalore. He has an MA in International Relations. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Aayush Pal 
Balaji Subramanian 
Palak Dogra