As we have rung in the New Year, change is the ‘mantra.’ India’s slow process of change is expected to carry forward with a general sense of stability at the social, political and administrative levels. Yet, hints in the national capital are that a reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers is round the corner. With senior-level ministers seemingly doing a good job, there’s no clarity as to which all heads could roll and who all could step in as new faces in the ministry at this late hour. The Modi government has an effective term of only a year left for governance, after which it could find itself in the lame duck form. The parliament elections would come calling during the first half of 2024. The build-up for the general elections would start this year at various levels.
The bi-annual national executive meet of the BJP is expected this month and Parliament would start its budget session by February 1. In between, the BJP might see a change of head as incumbent president JP Nadda’s present term would end by January 20. With the saffron party losing the assembly polls in his home state of Himachal Pradesh as also the Delhi civic elections held directly under his nose, he may have a lot of explaining to do. Rumours are that Nadda could be drafted to the Modi government and someone else might take the party’s leadership in the run-up to the set of assembly polls in about 10 states this year. Put together, this is as crucial as the 2024 general elections. This could put the entire year on election mode, followed by the onset of the parliament polls. While the Modi government talked about a ‘one nation one poll’ plan, whether some of these assembly polls could be clubbed with the parliament polls is worth a thought. When an idea is floated and it captures the nation’s fancy, it is incumbent on the government to implement it. Configuration of LS and assembly polls across the states could not only save the exchequer much needless expenditure but also helps in political stability and a more planned execution of projects at the pan-India level in each five-year-span.
This year might also face fresh situations of worry on the health front. Covid19’s new avatar from China is knocking on our doors. Experts warn the next two months are crucial in terms of a likely spread of the pandemic. On the positive side, the fear factor is less as the infections are reported to be mostly of a mild nature.
