People have spoken through the recent polls; time to rebuild the bridges. There is no reason why this cannot be done without upsetting anybody
Voting completed on June 1 in the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls of India, the largest and longest in the country’s history, which started in mid-April 2024. Around one billion eligible people went to cast their votes in the country. NDA, the BJP-led coalition, faced a tough contest for 543 seats from the INDIA — an alliance of various political parties led by the grand old Congress party. The INDIA bloc has performed far better, despite the NDA’s ‘nation first’ polity backed with the star campaigner Narendra Modi’s crowd pulling charisma. A good reason for the opposition alliance to celebrate.
The BJP, which had aimed for 370 seats for itself and 400-plus for the NDA, suffered major reverses, from the East to the West and could not make expected gains in the South. Although not stunning, the results do indicate that the brand of politics and governance by the second Modi government has not settled well with the electorate. The bitter truth is, it is a clear sign of dissatisfaction among people.
Voters, it appears, seek to prioritize bread and butter issues over ideological issues. Were that not the case, the BJP would not have sustained significant losses in its heartland Uttar Pradesh despite Ram Mandir grand ceremony at Ayodhya a few weeks before the polls. Down 63 seats from its 2019 tally of 303, the BJP’s vote share has also gone down a little in the recent polls– from 37.7 per cent to 36.56 per cent. The NDA, however, has crossed the halfway mark; Good enough for government formation.
The opposition INDIA camp wore a happy look for its stronger showing although it could not cross the halfway mark (of the total seats) on its own. However, the improvement should not carry away the camp and blind it to the stark realities: again having not been able to reach the victory mark. More so, Congress itself has won only 99 seats, from 52 in 2019, which is below par. The BJP has won 240 seats. It is crystal clear that the ruling BJP continues to impress people with its unique way of polity.
Modi, addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi in the evening of the vote counting day, hailed the mandate for the NDA and the third term in a row: “For the first time since 1962, a government has returned for the third time after completing its two terms.”
He further said, “Our Constitution is our guiding light. I want to assure that the NDA government will work with all states, irrespective of the party in power there, to work towards our resolve to make India a developed country. We have no time to stop or feel tired. It’s time to work together in the nation’s interest and move forward. We have to take new decisions for the country’s progress… In the third term, the country will write a new chapter of big decisions and this is Modi’s guarantee.”
These are positive remarks from the would-be PM and allude to the larger ambition of seeing India as the world’s third largest economy aside from earning it the superpower status. It is reassuring to hear the upcoming premier attaching such importance to the constitution and promising to work in tandem with all the states irrespective of the party in power there.
Whether or not, this vision translates into reality remains to be seen. What should be interesting to watch is the conviction and competence to overcome the challenges that could come in the way going forward. Notably, over the past two terms in office, Modi – led government marched ahead despite odds to execute its policies. Will this stay intact over the course of the straight third term without having full majority in the house this time? No prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first premier, has won three successive terms.
Also the opposition alliance, led by Congress, could turn out to be a tough proposition in the days to come. Not only has Congress shown a convincing improvement now but also its allies, in the INDIA alliance, have fared well. This could give teeth to the opposition bloc. Thus, a tough road ahead for the ruling dispensation.
Meanwhile, the verdict by people has more to it than meets the eye. Accepted that people have voted with zeal and thrown surprises. Accepted that voters have shown door to many heavyweights and also cut to size a number of big players. Accepted that the verdict has not yielded ‘chaur sau par’ (more than 400 seats) to the NDA. Nor has it disappointed INDIA. But a big lesson here to learn for both the alliances.
Either the electorate hates both of them or likes both. This love-hate relationship has surfaced in the shape of the divided loyalties of people in every constituency: those who voted the NDA have placed trust in return for a favorable response from it; so have those who voted INDIA.
There is a fear that this scenario could hit governance. That would deprive sections of the general public of the fruits of a democratic polity and welfare provisions. However, this is unlikely: the verdict has come as an eye opener for both NDA and INDIA alliances — the former’s unexpected performance ostensibly has also resulted from the anti-incumbency factor. And the latter grouping needs to do more homework to stage a brave comeback at the national level. Selective approach is bound to help no alliance.
Most importantly, both these grand alliances, including their grassroots, need to realize that the strongest driving forces for winning or losing are at the mohalla, village and town level. Your electoral prospects may bloom or wilt at this lower level. Realistically speaking, the focus on inclusive governance should trump all the principles in the new government or opposition. People have spoken through the recent polls; time to rebuild the bridges. There is no reason why this cannot be done without upsetting anybody.
(Author is RK columnist and teacher by profession. Feedback: [email protected])
