27

Jun

Political challenges mount for Modi

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Anwarul Haq Baig

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New Delhi, 27 June 2024

As the first session of India’s newly elected Parliament gets under way, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government faces a landscape of evolving political challenges. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) no longer commanding an absolute majority, the administration must now contend with a reinvigorated Opposition bloc in what promises to be a more contentious legislative environment.

Veteran journalist and political analyst Professor Pradeep Mathur outlined several key hurdles confronting the Modi government in its third term. “If we talk about challenges, there are many in front of this government,” Prof Mathur said in an interview with this news portal.

“But to understand them, it’s important that we divide the challenges into two or three categories”, he said.

Economic Development Remains Basic Concern

According to Prof Mathur, the foremost challenge remains India’s economic development trajectory. While the government has touted impressive growth figures and heavily promoted its economic achievements, Prof Mathur argues that a closer examination reveals a more complex reality.

Article at a Glance

 

As India's newly elected Parliament begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government faces significant challenges. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) no longer holding an absolute majority, the government must navigate a more contentious legislative environment.

According to Professor Pradeep  Mathur, the government's biggest hurdles include improving India's economic development trajectory, addressing funding constraints in education and healthcare, and reinvigorating the railway system. Additionally, the BJP must grapple with its ideological approach to India's diversity and adapt to a more robust Opposition.

Mathur emphasizes the importance of coalition politics and inclusive governance, warning that the government's autocratic attitude will no longer be tolerated. As the Modi government embarks on its third term, its ability to adapt and respond to these challenges will shape India's political landscape and developmental trajectory.

“The general impression is that the economy of the country is progressing very fast, things are going very well, and we are rapidly going to become a big economic power of the world,” Prof Mathur noted. “But if you look at it carefully, this narrative emerges more from propaganda than complete reality.”

Prof Mathur highlighted several areas where India continues to lag behind peer nations:

*Education spending: “Among the so-called big five countries, we have the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP,” Prof Mathur pointed out. He noted that despite the National Education Policy recommending that 6% of GDP be allocated to education, actual spending reached only 4.6% in the last budget.

*Healthcare: Prof Mathur indicated that India’s health sector faces similar funding constraints.

*Social indicators: “Many indicators are showing us that we are lagging behind all the countries in health, in per capita income, in education, in social security, in the status of women, and in many other areas,” he said.

Prof. Mathur argued that some of these metrics have further declined since Mr Modi came to power in 2014. “I think the biggest challenge is how we can improve and move towards the path of real development, apart from propaganda,” he stated.

Railways Policy Under Scrutiny

Prof Mathur also drew attention to the government’s railway policy as an area of concern, particularly in light of recent high-profile accidents. While acknowledging such incidents as unfortunate, he argued that they should not overshadow larger policy discussions about the railway’s role in Indian society.

“The biggest news about the Railways is the way talks about redevelopment have been proceeding in recent times,” Prof Mathur said. He expressed concern that proposed reorganization plans could undermine “the entire basic structure of the Railways and its basic utility.”

Mathur emphasized the railways’ historical importance as an affordable transport option for India’s poor and working classes. He criticized the introduction of premium services like the Vande Bharat Express, arguing that such initiatives cater primarily to wealthier segments of society while potentially marginalizing lower-income passengers.

“I want to say that at least Railways should be left for the poor,” Prof Mathur stated. He called for a broader public discussion on how to maintain and expand affordable rail options for the average Indian citizen.

Ideological Challenges and Diversity

Beyond economic and policy issues, Prof Mathur identified what he sees as a fundamental ideological challenge facing the BJP government: grappling with India’s immense diversity.

“The biggest problem BJP is facing is the ideological problem, as they have no idea about the diversity of India,” Prof Mathur asserted. He recounted conversations where he urged BJP leaders to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the country’s varied demographics, cultures, and religions.

Prof Mathur shared an anecdote about former Mizoram Chief Minister Laldenga to illustrate his point: “Laldenga once told me, ‘I am not Hindu, I do not know Hindi, I don’t come from a Hindi-speaking area, do you consider me to be an Indian?’ I replied, ‘Sir, of course you are Indian.'”

The professor argued that this lack of appreciation for India’s pluralistic nature has led to what he characterizes as a “dictatorial attitude” within the BJP. He noted that even in the party’s strongest electoral performances, it has never secured more than 37.5% of the popular vote. “This means that 63% of people in the country did not vote for the party,” Mathur said, questioning the legitimacy of pursuing what he sees as an exclusionary agenda.

Opposition Gains Strength

The recent election results have significantly altered the parliamentary arithmetic, with the Opposition Indian National Congress (INC) and its allies in the INDIA bloc securing over 220 seats. This marks a substantial increase from the 52 seats held by Congress after the 2019 election.

Prof Mathur views this strengthened Opposition as a positive development for Indian democracy. “Democracy is a matter of checks and balances,” he said. “It is mandatory for any man who becomes a democratic leader to have a democratic temperament.”

Prof Mathur drew historical parallels, citing examples of how previous leaders and institutions worked to maintain democratic norms even in times of overwhelming political dominance. He referenced Jawaharlal Nehru’s self-critical writings and the media’s embracing of an Oppositional role in the early years of Indian independence.

“A democratic leader must have dissent and disagreement so that people can tell them what is wrong, and they can correct it,” Prof. Mathur emphasized.

However, Prof Mathur expressed concern about what he perceives as an undemocratic temperament within the current BJP leadership, particularly Prime Minister Modi. “The basic problem is that the temperament of BJP, and especially of Mr Modi, is not democratic,” he stated.

With a more robust Opposition now in place, Prof Mathur anticipates increased scrutiny of government actions and policies. “The Opposition will talk about all the irregularities that happened in recent years,” he said. “There is no doubt that the government’s autocratic attitude will not work now.”

RSS-BJP

Prof Mathur also offered insight into the complex relationship between the BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He suggested that while the RSS remains committed to its vision of a Hindu Rashtra (nation), it has grown uncomfortable with Modi’s governing style.

“RSS first promoted Modi to some extent, but Modi became a dictator; he also started to ignore RSS,” Prof Mathur explained. He believes that significant factions within the BJP itself have become dissatisfied with Modi’s leadership approach.

According to Prof Mathur, the RSS now faces a dilemma: “RSS wants BJP government without Modi, or with Modi listening to everybody, including RSS and other leaders. A leader who becomes the prime minister should be one of the equals, but not a sort of boss of everybody.”

Coalition Politics and India’s Future

Looking ahead, Prof. Mathur emphasized that coalition governments have a long and largely successful history in India. He pointed to the numerous coalition administrations that governed the country from the late 1980s through the early 2010s.

“Coalition governments ran the country for about 30-35 years, and there was no problem,” Prof Mathur noted. He argued that given India’s diversity, a two-party system is likely unworkable and that coalition politics may be better suited to represent the nation’s varied interests.

“If you go to Kashmir, if you go to the South, you will understand that it is a country with different types of culture and people,” Prof Mathur said. “Run a coalition government and take care of all sections of society,” he suggested.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

As the Modi government embarks on its third term, Prof Mathur believes its biggest challenge will be adapting to the new political reality. “Modi will have to abolish his old attitude of dictator, and he should learn the culture of coalition government,” the professor stated. “If he learns, then he will remain the Prime Minister; otherwise, I think he will not remain the Prime Minister.”

Prof Mathur sees the recent election results as a clear rejection of divisive politics. “This country has made it very clear that it is not for a politics of religion and it does not want hate politics at all,” he asserted. The BJP’s defeat in traditionally strong areas like Ayodhya, according to Prof Mathur, sends a powerful message that voters are seeking a more inclusive approach.

“Now they should understand and take everyone along,” Prof Mathur advised. “Merely saying ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ (together with all, development for all) will not work now. The government will have to show in its actions that it is for all and everyone, without any discrimination of region, caste, and religion.”

As the new parliamentary session unfolds, all eyes will be on how the Modi government faces these multifaceted challenges. With a more assertive Opposition and growing calls for a recalibration of economic and social policies, the coming months promise to be a critical period in shaping India’s political landscape and developmental trajectory. The success or failure of the government in addressing these issues – from boosting inclusive economic growth to fostering a more harmonious social fabric – will likely play a decisive role in determining its long-term political fortunes and the country’s overall direction. The Modi government’s ability to adapt and respond to these challenges will be closely watched by supporters and critics alike.

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