Lok Sabha 2024: मोदी का सत्तापक्ष 400 पार, या विपक्ष की नैय्या मझधार !

           With the Announcement of Lok Sabha Poll schedule by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday, the power game in world’s largest democracy has begun! With 96.8 Crore voters going to elect their next rulers in the next 2.5  months, the contest is going to be gruesome, as incumbent PM Modi led NDA in top gear to win their 3rd term, a new record for a non-Congress govt. in 77 years of Independent India and Congress led 28- party I.N.D.I.Alliance, a  loose Gathbandhan on the other side of the mat,  impatient to re-capture the throne at Raisina Hills  after 10 years of  Banwas.

VOTERS, alias adult Citizens,  who were long back mere NUMBERS, are today Vigilant Masters,  the Janatha Janardan, asking questions, Demanding Solutions and Delivery  of manifesto promises.  Among them are 1.82  crore  first time voters, 82 lakh above 85 years old veterans who must have  voted 10 times or more and 2.18 lakh Centenarians who would recall joining  Freedom Movement, facing British  firing squads and bearing  lathi charge on their frail shoulders to  get this prestine previllege, Right to Vote for the Swaraj;  the Govt. of the People, For the People.

In the Election scenario as NDA is seeking a rare 3rd term in a row, it’s going to be a mandate on its performance over the past 10 years, while Opposition has no strong rallying points except Modi Hatao (and Desh Bachao).   Modi has a solid record of Governance, delivery, economic stability and growth,  superb strategy to woo voters  across the nation, and 24x7x365  election-ready Party network. On the performance scale, BJP led NDA under Narendra Modi stands tall with 80+ rating, having delivered its promises despite 2 yeears of Covid-19 menace world over, two major Wars  shattering the  Global economy and trade; having kept prices under control, implementing their promises on Ram Mandir, Article 370  removal,  Triple Talaq relief for Muslim women, providing CAA  shelter for 6 religious minorities from 3  neighbouring countries facing atrocities and expulsion,  upstaging India’s defence and image on the Global arena with superb diplomatic skill and  manouvres.

The electorate would  judge the NDA  candidates on Modi Govt’s delivery of promises, welfare schemes and their implementation, corruption free Governance and Modi’s Guarantees (on fulfilment of promises). In the last 10 years at the helm, his team has not let any section of the Society crying for support or relief.

Apart from all above aspects, the BJP as a politiical party and NDA govt has established a perfect commincation network with the Citizens. Reaching the benefits of welfare schemes to the masses and removing pilferage loopholes between Govt. departments and the end-users, coupled with effective  Communication has established a strong two-way trust bond.  The beneficiaries are getting 100%  of the sanctioned amounts in their Jan Dhan bank accounts or at their door-steps without any cut.

The Opposition I.N.D.I.Alliance, on the other hand lacks unity, common strategy, leadership blueprint and direction. Though Opposition parties started parleys among themselves, two years ago,  to form a strong Gathbandhan, as an alternative to NDA and founded it formally on July 18, 2023, it has lacked any united strategy, leadership  or Common Minimum Program except Modi Hatao calls here and there.  In most major states regional sataraps are projecting themselves as national alternatives without any blueprints.

The dilema of the Opposition Alliance is,  it comprises of  regional units, either having a  Party Leader without   followers or Followers without a Strong Leader!  Most single state parties led by regional leaders  like Mamata Banerjee,  Sharad Pawar,  Akhilesh Yadav,  MK Stalin, Uddhav Thakerey, Mayawati, Arvind Kejriwal,  et all,  with ambitions to reach Raisina Hills by defeating each other than fighting the national Giant rival NDA.

The only national party which could have challenged Modi-Shah duo is Congress,  with remnants of Nehru-Indira era followers or party symbols across India. But it  has not been able to project a credible strong leader. The party doesn’t want to come out of Gandhi-Nehru surname or family Shell for reasons better known to them. Their four-time MP Rahul Gandhi has led  Bharat Jodo Yatra twice from Kerala to Kashmir and Guwahati to Ghatkopar (Mumbai), without getting support from Gathbandhan allies. That leads us Back to Square 1  status, on the Opposition table, with neither any Ignition Device, nor any   booster Pills !

None of these leaders can challenge Narendra Modi’s aura, built over last 22 years as Gujarat Chief Minister and two term Prime Minister without any corruption or policy failure.  The two opposition taunted allegations on NDA govt are; the  Demonetisation or the SC beaten Electoral Bonds, were just policy experiments or  inititives without any personal  or political tags.  The only pull back for NDA could be anti-incumbancy! 

                                                                                                                                                                                        (Subhash C Vatsain-Editor)