Modi mourning his mother’s loss silently
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a worried personality these days. Is this because he lost his 100-year-old mother? Losing one’s mother is a traumatic experience. With a heavy heart, Modi asked his friends and admirers not to visit him, terming his loss as a personal one. But Narendra Modi was emotional when many of his Cabinet colleagues met him at the Union Cabinet meeting day. That was the first day Modi met many of his confidants in a group. One Union Minister said that Modi controlled his tears, and did not show them. After about two minutes, Modi asked the Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba to read out the agenda of the Cabinet meeting.
What keeps Modi sleepless at nights?
What worries Narendra Modi? The year 2023 has begun well, with the apex court approving his decision to demonetise 500 and 1000 rupee notes. Modi would want to complete his other poll promise of opening the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. This is well on track. But the real concerns are Oil price, stabilization of international trade, etc. Some international and national political developments are a concern for Narendra Modi. First is the Ukraine conflict. The second is the mischief by the CCP/ PLA on the Line of Actual Control. Third is Digital Terrorism. And there are a few more. All these will have an impact on the 2023 Union Budget.
The Budget – what to leave and what to include
Modi’s foremost concern is February 1, 2023, at 11 AM, when his Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman stands up in the Parliament and presents her last Budget of the National Democratic Alliance for this term. Next year will be a ‘vote on account’. Modi is concerned about the inordinate delays in the completion of his dream projects – New Parliament House and the G20 conference venue at Pragati Maidan to name a few – in New Delhi. These two are on his front burners. Not only that, Modi chases these projects through drone images and also pushes his loyal ministerial colleagues Hardeep Singh Puri and Piyush Goyal towards the finish line. As a matter of fact, these two Union Ministers personally visit these two sites on a weekly basis and give feedback to the PM. Modi is a man who demands perfection. Though Modi has briefings, Modi prefers a personal look at the works in progress. Modi might also visit the two sites in the middle of January.
The Opposition
Intemperate statements by a few leaders of the opposition have him concerned. A select few are keen to demolish Modi’s image. These political parties artificially create lots of anti-Modi narratives and throw mud to see if it sticks but the sagacious voters are not buying these falsehoods. His strong showing in states that returned BJP shows that he has been able to overcome anti-incumbency. Two major states’ results Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat proved this but Himachal Pradesh was an exception. Even if that state loss was primarily due to internal fighting in the party, he feels that he should have managed it better. The fake poll promise of the Old Pension Scheme revival was a major reason for the loss in HP. That the difference in voting percentage between the winner and the loser of .6% will sting.
Ten battleground states are up next
The next major worry for Narendra Modi is the ten State Assembly elections including that of Jammu and Kashmir.
Full concentration on Karnataka
Modi wants to turn his full attention on Karnataka. If the BJP wins the narrative for the rest of the Assembly polls of 2023 then it is a given that the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 will be a cakewalk. A few close confidants say that Modi is now feeling the absence of Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, and others. Though the space is filled by Amit Shah, Prime Minister Modi is unable to comprehend the damage the Grand Old Party Congress will be facing after 2024.
Foreign countries do not want Modi to come a third time
Insiders speculate that the foreign powers are keen to destabilize the Modi hat trick in 2024.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar are keeping their eyes and ears open on this aspect. A lot of definitive leads were obtained, that cannot be revealed in public. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is swallowing these bitter pills. Modi realizes who his enemy number one is and how that enemy is helping two or three Indian opposition parties. Modi is in an aggressive mode to get to the bottom of the “foreign personal assets” of 45 top Indian political personalities in eight world capitals. The secret list is with the government. But the government is holding its teeth tight, to expose it at the opportune time. Hence the frequent Enforcement Directorate raids. International non-governmental agencies fund destabilization and terrorism. That is why concentration on these anti-national elements, is effectively followed up by the national investigation agency.
The positive results of infrastructure developments in India such as airports, railway stations, new high-rise buildings, digital payments reach, and upliftment of poverty in remote villages with the construction of toilets, have a major impact on the common man. The Double-Engine model of the successful UP Poll campaign may find its variants in the upcoming State Assembly polls.
But the narrow defeat of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh has given some breathing oxygen to the Opposition. But Narendra Modi is a fighter, with a never-say-never attitude.
As the saying goes Modi hai to mum kin hai.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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An article from a bhakt. Does he know what all happened during demonetisation? Swamy knows but prefers to attack on different ways in court- like outside Directors of RBI