Widely debated in the media and even by people around the world are the 2024 18th Lok Sabha election results that returned PM Modi for a third term. What exactly is the mandate of the people? The results of the fierce competition between a confident well entrenched ruling party holding all the aces expecting 400 plus seats and a shaky India alliance with most of their leaders either in jail, prosecuted for corruption, accounts frozen etc. and the exit polls all giving the BJP a massive mandate surprised us all!
God had answered the prayers of “we the people” and the actual mandate were a win- win for the ruling party (though not what they bargained for), for the Opposition, for Democracy and the nation.
I had ended my last article in the May 8th issue of The Goan with the quotation “Power will intoxicate the best of hearts as wine the strongest heads. No man is wise enough nor good enough to be trusted with unlimited power”.
The progress of Modi from a Pradan Sevak to chowkidar to the supreme leader face of the BJP to a self-proclaimed Vishwaguru to messenger of God leading Bharat through a bruising polarized decade marked by constant frantic action and master showmanship, bulldozing politics with religious nationalism and Hindutva was leading Indian democracy, an emerging growing world power in the wrong direction!
Religion is opium of the people and faith can be illogical. But Ram Mandir and religious divide did not sway the electorate anymore as did danger of losing our democracy, relentless price rise, increasing inequality and lack of jobs.
From demonetization to farmer’s protests to Covid lockdown and unilateral decisions bulldozed in Parliament, the voter has now pressed the pause button. Goan electorate also kept the balance electing one representative from the ruling party and one from the India alliance!
Worth reiterating the chief of the RSS Mohan Bhagwat mincing no words in mentioning the arrogance, lies and unethical election rhetoric under the looming persona of the PM pointing out importantly that the Opposition was not an adversary and PM needs to pay attention to Manipur!
It should be noted that though the BJP got 240 seats short of the majority of 272, the NDA has a majority of 293 including experienced mavericks Chandra Babu Naidu (TDP) and Nitish Kumar (JDU) who between them can topple the BJP but seem to be towing the Modi line for now.
The India Alliance cannot count on the BJP coalition to fail to complete its five year term for Naidu and Nitish will probably act in their own and States interest, accordingly not rock their alliance boat. So far it is Modi 3.0 since he seems to be calling the shots once again.
All the key appointments made in major portfolios are the same BJP stalwarts and his writ runs as before. Even though it was a foregone conclusion the President swore him in as PM without due protocol of the newly elected MPs electing him in the central hall as was done in 2014 .
The replacing of the colonial Indian Penal Code with new Indianized laws was passed in Parliament without the Opposition having any say. Some laws have been retained but renamed, and according to eminent retired judges and lawyers, making them even more draconian and giving police more powers instead of more checks and balances!
Terrorism is defined, sedition retained in worse form, punishment introduced against acts of sovereignty and for anyone speaking against the country or working against its interest as envisioned by the BJP/ powers that be. UAPA and PMLA are retained and most colonial laws too merely re numbered.
Freedom of speech and protests can be absolutely silenced! This can be dangerously misused and it is hoped the Opposition will now pull its weight and make Parliament accountable and function as per our Constitution! This should be priority for the India alliance.
The Goa Vidan Sabha will try to continue with its double engine government as the Congress strength is depleted with all its stalwarts having jumped ship to join the BJP. Here the Opposition strength is insignificant. However with the India Alliance at 246 in Parliament, we pray Parliament will function as a mature Democracy.
The mandate is against unilateral strongman politics where institutions, ideology, religion and society are controlled by a king sized personality with pretensions of divinity who remains in total power even now though his political and moral stature is tarnished.
His behavior and statements abroad like visit to see the Pope, video selfie with Italian PM are not commensurate with his actions in India and of his parrivar where he will visit and perform at temples but has not visited Manipur which is still burning for over a year.
The coming days are critical and “we the people” who voted for the NDA 3.0 expect/have to ensure both the ruling party and Opposition live up to our mandate.
