Narendra Modi and the Defeat in Delhi Election

Narendra Modi is Prime Minister if India and so far it appeared he was like King Midas, the man with the golden touch as he swept every election from Kashmir, to Maharashtra with aplomb.  But the recent Delhi election is a rude jolt to him and the BJP, the party he heads. One cannot minimize the effect of this loss and put it under the carpet for it is a dangerous pointer to the public perception of how the Modi government has worked.

The BJP has received a drubbing winning only 3 seats out a possible 70. The Aam Adami Party (AAP) has swept everything before it and won 67 out of the 70 seats; a tremendous achievement. Most polls had predicted an AAP win, but no one expected this complete sweep. However in case one looks at the way the BJP under Modi has functioned will be a pointer as to why the defeat took place.

The fact is Modi sidestepped many issues and promises made during the run up to the general election. Some of these he reiterated after election as well, but over all there was no implementation.  We can list a few of them.

a) His promises and rhetoric on 'Black Money" turned out to be a damp squib and his claim of bringing in all the black money turned out to be hollow. No black money has come and overall Modi made to look a man who failed.

b) He promised one rank One Pension (OROP) to retired servicemen, but 10 months down the line the BJP has done nothing and overall has just been sitting on an egg like the hen. Modi has been unable to explain why OROP is not sanctioned and the government of India letter issued. This has alienated millions of ex-servicemen who make a considerable voting bloc.

c) Modi had got elected on a promise of 'development'. But the last10/11 months have shown that Modi and his party instead of development have followed a sectarian agenda. Attacks on churches, so called Ghar Wapsi) reconversion) has taken center stage and all along Modi has kept an enigmatic silence.

These are major issues and the voter who voted Modi in has realized that he is a man with feet of clay a lumbering giant who only talks but does not perform. Is it any surprise that Modi is trashed? In case he does not pull up his socks, he may well go into the dust bin of history, notwithstanding his wearing a suit with Narendra Modi embroidered all over it.