As the will of India asserted itself in Lok Sabha Polls 2019, it turned out to be a defining moment for democracy. A strong leader in the form of Narendra Modi swept the polls and is set to run the nation for a second term, meaning a total of 10 years. When Modi assumed the prime- ministership of India in 2014, he had famously said he wanted one more term to make India great. He has been granted the wish. The past five years did not see any spectacular change for India; it carried on in a normal manner. The hope today is that the day when Modi completes 10 years in Delhi, India would be a shining example of all-round, fast-paced growth. Time waits for none – neither for individuals, nor for nations.
It’s easy to sit in judgment as to what helped Modi perform this miracle. Till a week ago, the media was awash with reports of rural distress, joblessness, and an overall mood of despondence. For the naked eye, no wave was in evidence. Still, as we see now, a Modi wave was building up through the seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls. It was a total washout for Modi’s rivals across India, except for the deep South and a part of the south-eastern side. A saffron surge was in full force, decimating its rivals with rare dynamics. It’s for the first time after 1957 that such luck is beckoning a political establishment and its leader.
Symbolism matters. Modi presented himself as the “chaiwala” in 2014; this time he was the nation’s “chowkidar.” And, once the results were out, Modi swiftly disbanded the chowkidar tag from his twitter handle. Modi managed to identify himself with the common masses. It means much in a democracy. The minorities were not comfortable with Modi or the BJP. They have the right to dissent, but wider India saw merit in Modi. Modi now says he will bring unity among all Indians. Magnanimity is both a virtue and a calling of the times. The grand mosaic of cultures, races, religions, regions, castes and communities that India is made of, demands that the nation stand as one. Leadership makes all the difference – it crafts good times or bad times.
Notably, what helped Modi and the BJP reach this stage was also the lack of a viable alternative. By liberally granting space to the likes of Chandrababu Naidu and Mamata Banerjee, and for their vaulting ambitions, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi failed to lead from the front.