New Delhi: Narendra Modi is poised to be sworn in as India’s Prime Minister for the third consecutive term on Saturday, a milestone previously reached only by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962. Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not securing a majority on its own, the larger National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has comfortably surpassed the halfway mark in the elections to the 18th Lok Sabha. BJP leaders have hailed this feat as “historic.”
Historic Mandate
Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, a senior party leader and former chairman of ICCR, highlighted the significance of securing a third term. “A third term for the same party has not happened in the last six decades. This is a vote for Viksit Bharat and against the divisive and appeasement politics of the Opposition,” he said. He emphasized the BJP’s challenge to counter forces aiming to fragment society and emulate the British policy of divide and rule.
International Context and Domestic Sentiment
Globally, few leaders have served beyond a decade, with BJP leaders attributing their mandate to Modi’s governance model. This model focuses on social welfare, economic reforms, and securing India’s position on the global stage. The BJP, which saw its tally decrease from 303 to 240 seats, remains confident despite falling short of its high expectations. The mood within the party is described as somber but not despondent.
A senior party leader, who wished to remain anonymous, attributed the dip in numbers to anti-incumbency against local candidates and rumors about the BJP’s intentions, such as scrapping reservations and changing the Constitution. “Our assurance that none of this was part of the BJP’s agenda was perhaps too little too late,” the leader said.
Performance and Brand Modi
Despite setbacks, the BJP’s delivery and performance, particularly in social welfare and catering to the aspirations of the young demographic, have kept anti-incumbency at bay. The BJP’s emergence as the single largest party and its victory in the Odisha assembly polls underscore the enduring appeal of Brand Modi. “People have judged him for the delivery of promises, whether it was the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir or the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill,” said a second leader.
Modi was central to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the party’s campaign built around his leadership. The election pitch was “Modi Ki Guarantee,” emphasizing the party’s development agenda, welfare schemes, focus on women and youth, and commitment to Hindutva.
Coalition Challenges
Some commentators suggest that a diminished strength in the Lok Sabha might force the Modi government to moderate its ideology or slow down on reforms. However, party leaders assert that Modi’s administration will remain firm. “In the last two terms, the BJP did not yield to international pressure on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Bill or the abrogation of Article 370,” a party leader said.
The perception that running a coalition government will be challenging for Modi is also dismissed by BJP leaders. Reduced numbers may pose obstacles in passing contentious bills like the uniform civil code and the one nation, one election scheme. “There will be challenges, but Modi knows when to compromise and when to stand firm,” a third leader said.
Modi’s Vision
Modi’s address to party workers after the election results was clear about his intentions. “The war against corruption will not stop. He has already indicated that the government will not be weak, and he aims to leave a legacy of strength,” the third leader added.
Analysts suggest that Modi has a strong sense of history and sees his third term as a chance to cement his status as India’s tallest political leader since independence. He has repeatedly spoken about making India the third largest economy in the world during this term and achieving developed nation status by 2047. His journey towards these goals begins on Saturday.
