Narendra Modi's Overwhelming Mandate

The 2014 Indian elections were also the largest democratic exercise in history of the world with over 550 million votes cast. The BJP has got an overwhelming mandate and has emerged as the single largest party. This is indicative of the fact that the people of India were sick of the successive coalition governments at the centre. Hence, India decided to give a thumping majority to Narendra Modi, who has promised unprecedented development right through electioneering. Modi has re-shaped the national political space. Before India went to polls in 2014, this canvas was largely dominated by the Congress with BJP mostly looking like a super regional party. At last, Indian democracy can bid farewell to the coalition era. Apart from this, the results have shown that regional parties do not have absolute power to change the equations in the Parliament, if the majority of the people decide so. So, now the Government is not on the whims and fancies of the regional players, who generally played spoilsport. This election was a watershed in more ways than one. It has given a big blow to communal politics. The appeasement politics of the so-called secular parties has ended. Almost all Muslim candidates have lost election, even from BJP. This goes on to prove that Muslim voters have summarily rejected vote- bank politics. They are ready to join the mainstream by stepping out of their religious identity. Today, Indians have elected a leader who is virtually incorruptible in his personal life with a track record of economic progress built with relentless free market capitalism. Modi has long been demonized by the left for 2002 riots in Gujarat that occurred only months after he became the state chief. His election to the office of Prime Minister of India means that the people of India have exonerated him of the charges. His invitation to the heads of SAARC nations to attend his swearing- in-ceremony has won hearts and minds alike, across the world. Political commentators talk about his charisma. This enables him to focus on the mammoth task of rebuilding India. He has successfully convinced the electorate and people at large to entrust him with this responsibility. After about 12 weeks in the Government, Narendra Modi, is keen to surgically remove tumors in the government machinery. The Council of Ministers is soon to be revamped and pruned to remove unwanted and non performing elements. There is a need to rewrite a new Citizens’Charter, to differentiate their rule from the earlier regime. The babus need to be reined in. For they have terrific powers but zero accountability. Administrative reforms are needed. They must repeal or reframe/ restructure Section 197 of the CrPC that shamefully continues in our statute books. The rule stipulates that no public servant can be prosecuted for any offence alleged to have been committed “while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of official duty" without the prior sanction of the Government. Thus, the procedure of booking errant bureaucrats is so convoluted and agonizing that ordinary persons do not have the slightest chance of success. Secondly, changes are needed in Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and make it obligatory for sanctioning authority to decide within 3 months whether or not permission should be given to prosecute a public servant under the Act. This immunity to public servants grossly disrespects the charter of "Equality before Law “to every citizen. The Supreme Court had struck off this "Single Directive" provision of the act pertaining to prosecution of officers above joint secretary level in its recent judgement too. The officers need to be held accountable. Lastly judicial reforms are also needed. A well crafted Judicial Reform Law is essential to usher in judicial accountability and efficiency. We have to look at the Veeraswami Judgment that provides almost total immunity to the senior judiciary and ensure it is jettisoned at the earliest. I expect Narendra Modi to bring method into governance, keep his administration grounded and revved up, hold the ministers accountable and expect him to continuously exhort and motivate workers and his team in the Government. He leads by example and should continue to do so. His outreach will be specially directed at the youth. Just like ex-President Ronald Reagan of USA, Narendra Modi too believes in course correction. His biggest asset is self correction. This is the genesis of course correction. He does not hold anything sacred for himself, his government, policies or his party and ministers. He is ready to learn and unlearn without ego hassles. This is a huge asset rarely found in people of authority. The thoughts of the revolutionary sage Sri Aurobindo are particularly apposite now. “The Kshatriya of the old must again take his rightful position in our social polity to discharge the first and foremost duty of defending its interests. The brain is impotent without the right arm of strength. What India needs especially at this moment is the aggressive virtues, the spirit of soaring idealism, bold creation, fearless resistance, courageous attack ; of the passive tamasic spirit of inertia we have already too much. We need to cultivate another training and temperament, another habit of mind.”