For the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’ is surely an ambitious target, but not a flight of fancy. He is trying hard to enthuse the electorate to come forward and vote. He is also trying hard to showcase his achievements to let people make a decision about their voting preference. Modi is also trying to create an emotional connect with them on issues that touch their heart and stir their conscience. He talks at length about the ‘Viksit Bharat’ mission, India catapulting to the third largest economy in his third term, and the social welfare schemes that the government has launched in the last ten years. Issues relating to culture, civilisation and faith are the other dimensions.
The Ram Mandir, for instance, was an issue of faith for most Hindus, and Modi had no qualms in explicitly expressing his faith and devotion in the countdown to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. During his election rallies, Modi tried to puncture the attempted narratives of his political rivals and build a counter-narrative. An example of that is how he put the Congress on the defensive on its manifesto or the ‘Nyay Patra’, over two chapters — “Equity” and “Religious and Linguistic Minorities”. Modi likened it to the Muslim League manifesto and reasoned how. But polarising or bringing out emotive issues may have its own consequences.
In the last few weeks Modi has suddenly taken an aggressive tone. He harped on Rahul Gandhi’s public announcement on the “financial and institutional survey” for redistribution of wealth and Sam Pitroda’s call for imposing the defunct idea of ‘Inheritance Tax’ in India. Modi swung Congress’ narrative on its head, pitching the counterpoints in such a way that the Congress and its allies found it hard to find the right counter, either on financial survey or on reservations — that Congress was actually snatching OBC, SC and ST rights by gifting them to Muslims through the backdoor, as was seen in Andhra Pradesh in the past, and in Karnataka at the present.
But is Modi suddenly turning aggressive and trying to hold onto his core constituency by creating a fear among the electorate about Congress coming to power? But will it be favourable to the BJP or are the voters being carried away by the newly formed INDIA’s anti-PM propaganda? Either the internal surveys of BJP may be showing a poorer performance than the slogan of 400 plus. The poor voting percentage must have riddled the BJP strategists forcing them to redraw their plans. The INDIA bloc blames Modi for avoiding the discourse on issues relevant to the common people like employment and price rise. Is Modi avoiding these issues? The answers will be found only on June 4, when the results come out.
