Modi Magic worked because the voters either did not buy those arguments or bought it only partially. What they have more fully endorsed is his clean image, his politics of non-appeasement
Five years ago, the Modi wave had flattened the Congress and most other parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Since then, we were told that not only had the victims been working overtime to devise strategies to overcome the reversal but that they had put in place a failsafe plan to ensure that 2014 didn’t repeat itself in 2019 through another wave. Now they cannot believe either their eyes or their ears. The wave, far from having been contained, had turned into a tsunami. A Modi blizzard, bang in the midst of summer, has all but buried a variety of rivals. If 2014 saw an unprecedented win for a party in 30 years, 2019 could give the record-keepers another data; it would be only the second time in independent India’s history that a ruling party returns to power with a bigger margin than the absolute majority it had got in the immediately preceding Lok Sabha elections.
In the course of campaigning, when BJP leaders confidently said their party would outperform its 2014 achievement, it was taken with a pinch of salt and considered a stock response. But towards the end of poll campaign, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah reiterated this confidence on repeated occasions, it was obvious that they were privy to a public mood which somehow had escaped not just the Opposition’s but also the media’s attention. When exit polls projected a clear trend in the BJP-led NDA’s favour, alarm bells began to ring in the rival camps and it dawned on the spectrum of opposition leaders that they could indeed be heading towards another round of humiliation.
The Modi magic, for all its potency, could not have had an impact on a wide scale such as the one we are witness to, but for the well-oiled party machinery which carried the message to the grassroots
There cannot be one reason for the massive mandate since a number of factors were at play. But the overarching contributor was Prime Minister Modi’s magic. That charisma worked in every state that mattered, including in those which had rejected the BJP in Assembly elections a few months ago. It helped to effectively contain the party’s losses in Uttar Pradesh where it was confronted with an (on-paper) formidable caste consolation brought about through a coalition of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, and also helped better the NDA’s already stupendous 2014 record in Bihar. The Modi magic also swung voters the BJP way in West Bengal and Odisha, the two states where the party had been working for years to gain a foothold. Additionally, it assisted the BJP to make a dramatic comeback in Karnataka where it had failed to form a government despite being the single largest party in the Assembly polls. The Modi phenomenon was evident throughout the country, barring a clutch of states in the south and Punjab in the north.
That the ‘where’. But ‘why’ did it work, despite the fact that a systematic campaign had been launched by opposition parties to corner the Modi government on job losses, agrarian distress and disruption of the economy due to demonetisation and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax? Why did the Modi magic click even though rivals had drummed it into the heads of the voters that the Prime Minister was good only at promising but was woefully short in delivering? Why did it have an impact even when the opposition camp made it known that Modi was bad for India’s secular fabric and for the prosperity of democratic values?
It worked because the voters either did not buy those arguments or bought it only partially. What they have more fully endorsed is his clean image, his politics of non-appeasement, the welfare measures his government initiated and implemented with an amount of success, his nationalistic fervour, and his muscular approach to terrorism. The Congress failed in its attempt to corner the Prime Minister on the Rafale deal — over which Congress president Rahul Gandhi called him a thief and his government corrupt. The Modi charisma struck gold also because the voters were unwilling to try out a messy combination of parties as their next government; they preferred a stable and strong regime with a powerful leader at the helm. They saw through the game plan of the regional satraps who were working hard to ensure that the verdict threw up a hung House where they could play kingmakers and matchmakers. They have had enough of the early 1990s instability.
Of course, the Modi magic, for all its potency, could not have had an impact on a wide scale such as the one we are witness to, but for the well-oiled party machinery which carried the message to the grassroots, and deft election management down to the booth level. The ground was prepared by the master strategist Amit Shah. In 2014, Shah was credited with crafting the party’s grand performance in Uttar Pradesh; this time around he expanded his activities to other parts of the country, more particularly the eastern and the north-eastern States.
Where does the 2019 result leave the Congress? It has been decimated yet again and questions will be asked of Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. The party should also be introspecting if it went awfully wrong in abusing the Prime Minister, calling him all sorts of names; the ‘thief’ accusation being the mildest among them. Finally, it will have to mull over the value that the dynasty brings to its electoral politics. After all, not only has Rahul Gandhi’s leadership failed, his sister Priyanka Vadra’s intervention as the party’s general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh did little to lift the Congress’s profile in the State.
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
MODI IS NOT A HERO.The Real hero is sangh parivar who through crores and crores of booth workers brought this victory . Remember these Sangh parivar can make anyone PM Candidate but they should live up to their expectations. Have anyone seen before any PM Candidate who worked tirelessly than a party worker But Modi and AmitShah did why. Bjp would have won 200 seats in a worst case scenario but that would mean incompetence on the modi shah duo and Nitin gatkari would have taken over as he is one who RSS wants . Now thats the Trailer and they have Satisfied everone But the Main picture is building Ram temple and if its done in these 5 Years Amit shah is our next PM or otherwise Nitin Gadkari comes into play once again
Even in 2014 Nitin was the first choice but this due scored brilliantly and also nitin had somecorruption charges . So now modi rule will be people friendly and he will pass the baton to AmitShah Successfully. Wait wait no words about Rahul mayawati mamatha etc because the pressure to perform is internal factor and Bjp never worried about opposition bcas it is a big Zero . Remember sangh never nominate any one but it should nod its head in acceptance so that its people start working. Nitin is a Maharashtrian Brahmin So Rss likes him the most as Nagpur is theirfort
So fromhere onwards it is BJP all the way for atleast next 15 years.
so the only thorn in Bjp is Jaitley and the icing on the cake will be Swamy but lets see if modi can overcome his ego . So only agenda is Ram temple nothing else if it is done its pass mark if everything done no ram temple its a fail
We are expecting lot of things in the second term. Hope we will not be disappointed n any point.
it is not one man- MODI- his supporting cast – contributed immensely.
the electorate- voted for a decisive win- so that -MODI- need not make any compromise with opposition – now he can really implement the incomplete agenda- he HAS no excuses.
the electorate would not have been so decisive- to give MODI a mandate- ‘bring along the opposition’ not necessary.
the opposition lost badly- they are not going to forget it- and they will attempt to sabotage any which way they can- MODI HAS GOT TO REMEMBER AT EVERY MOMENT- I HAVE A MANDATE- A DECISIVE VICTORY- GREATER THAN THE FIRST TERM- THERE MUST BE A REASON?- OH YES- HE DID NOT IMPLEMENT AND INCOMPLETE GRADE FOR SOME MAJOR PROMISES/ASPIRATIONS- HE RAN ON IN THE FIRST TERM.
CORRUPTION, CLEAM UP THE ADMINISTRATION BEREAUCRATES THAT ARE STILL THERE IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION- AND THEY ARE READY TO UNDERMINE YOUR EFFORTS AGAIN.
YOU ARE GOING TO GET RID OF JAITLEY.
YOU ARE GOING TO GET RID/REMOVE THOSE BUREAUCRATS WHO HAVE SABOTAGED YOUR EFFORTS.
YOU ARE GOING TO CLEAN HOUSE AT YOUR RBI-FINANCE MINISTRY-SEBI, AND INSTALL SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY AS FINANCE MINISTER.- SWALLOW YOUR EGO- HE IS THE RIGHT MAN AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE RIGHT REASON.
IMPLEMENT YOUR EXECUTIVE ORDER- TO BRING BACK MONEY HELD AT TAX HAVENS- YOU CAN DO IT AS SOON AS YOUR ARE SWORN IN FOR 2ND TERM.
REVIEW THE EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES- MAKE SANSKRIT COMPULSORY -AT THE PRESCHOOL- THROUGH PRIMARY EDUCATION- SECONDARY EDUCATION- AND MANDATE UNIVERSITIES OFFER SANSKRIT- CORE SUBJECT- FOR SPECIFIC CORE SUBJECT CONCENTRATION.
TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL SKILLS INSTITUTIONS- LIKE THE IIT’S THROUGH OUT BHARAT- IN EVERY STATE/DISTRICT POSSIBLE. THESE SKILL SETS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MANUFACTURING.
REMOVE 370, 35A; CREATE PATHWAY TO BRING KASHMIR PANDITS BACK TO THEIR HOME LAND.
CREATE PATHWAY TO SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION – JAMMU-LADAHK-KASHMIR.
DO NOT GO SOFT ON THE ROGUE TERRORIST STATE- NOW IS NOT THE TIME- LEAST OF YOUR PRIORITY- AND THE SYMPATHIZERS ARE WAITING FOR YOU TO GO SOFT- AND THEY HOPE- F…G MORON-PAKI PM INITIATED TO CONGRATULATE MODI- HOPING TO FALSELY BEGIN A DIALOGUE- WATCH OUT MODI- APPARENTLY MODI RETURN HIS GESTURE-.
BHARAT – SHALL OBSERVE YOUR EVERY MOVE- THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE UP FOR THE DISSAPOINTING INCOMPLETES IN YOUR FIRST TERM- THE VOTERSW PLAYED THEIR PART- NOW IT YOUR TURN.
CLIMATE SCIENTISTS HAVE GIVEN US 10-12 YEARS- TO REVERSE GLOBAL WARMING- IF NOT THEY SAID IT WILL LIKELY BE IRREVERSIBLE – THIS ULTIMATUM- GIVES BHARAT A OPPORTUNITY TO MOBILIZE A WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE WHEN FOSSIL FUELS ARE REPLACED WITH RENEWABLE FUELS.
IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MULTIPLY THE GDP SEVERAL TIME OVER AS WELL- THROUGH INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
MODI I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO READ ALL OUR COMMENTS- HOPE YOUR STAFF GET THIS SOURCE OF VOTER SENTIMENT- TO YOU.
I HAVE MENTIONED A THIN SLICE OF POTENTIAL THOUGHTS- MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS ECONOMY TURN INTO A MULTIPLE OF THE CURRENTT AGGREGATE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY- NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I sincerely thank Sri Iyer and everyone working for PGurus from bottom of my heart for making this humongous effort of guiding Indian voters in right direction by their unbiased reporting. Keep up your good work. Thank you once again and with best regards
Modi enjoys absolute majority NOW. Poll promises from 2014 remains yet undelivered. WEED OUT – Eliminate CORRUPTION at the Top. JAIL Corrupt Netas, Top Corrupt Bureaucrats, Clean up the Judiciary pit falls, address black money problem head on. Consider Dr. Subramanian Swamy for the post of FM. See whether he really would turn around the table towards India GDP to jump to double digit score. This will set India to the Superpower and acceptance for right royal entry into the UNSC membership.
As predicted by “Cho” (late) Thuglak founder, BJP got the second term successfully. He also said, single majority party is not good for the country. Now it is responsibility & opportunity for BJP to run a Dedicated, Sincere ruling for the next 5 years to capture 2024. Along with Modi Ji every BJP person should work for better India.
It is a win for nationalism. I hope this time Modi will not squander the opportunity to make India great.
Hee Hee Hee Rajeshji despite all #Pidimedia, people knew its a WAR between CROSS and SWASTIK, between Firangis and Sanghi (all 100% Native Indians with Indian genetics), between Italian Nazi Conquistador (Inquisition) PARTY and BHARTIYA PARTY..THIS IS JUST A BEGINNING OF yet distant waking up of a Great most ancient civilization, sleeping and getting battered for last 1000 years, Kumbhkarni sleep seems to be breaking up.. MODIJI is just CHANDRAGUPTA I, wait SAMUDRAGUPTA, CHANDRAGUPTA VIKRADITYA, KUMARAGUPTA, SKANDAGUPTA are to follow
Although things were little different this time, looking at Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s defeat after magnificent job as PM, I was little shaky. I prayed people would not repeat their blunder! As I said, things were different this time, finally it was proven with decisive victory. One man wiping out an entire opposition. What a Hero!!