First Anniversary of Modi's government

We are into the 2nd year after the Modi juggernaut rolled in an Indian summer, handing BJP lead NDA an emphatic win. Though India has a Parliamentary system, it was Modi's election all the way. He did spectacularly well in the politically important cow belt, belying most predictions. But it came with huge expectations of promised ACHHE DIN or good days. Sweet public memory can be short lived, turning sour quickly like milk during a hot summer. Our voters who love Bollywood and Rajni movies often expect magical solutions to their problems when roads are filled with potholers. If expectations are not met, they can extract their pound of flesh with compound interest before our leaders realize.

 

As the din and bustle of his victory has settled down, time for some reality check. Modi has certainly began well, compared to when India was looking rudderless during the UPA government. He has managed to put India back on the right track, making its "policy paralytic" limb making some promising move. I wish he would have made his first budget more reforms oriented with some bold steps, when he was in his so called "honeymoon phase", often referred as time when the lure and lustre has not faded yet. India is seen as a "Caged Tiger", who has tremendous potential to be unleashed. All it needs is right leadership to make it cage free, free roamer. Modi with his energy and enthusiasm has grabbed the World's attention. That's a positive sign.

 

Now is the crucial time for agenda implementation, which wont be easy. Here he has myriads of challenges ahead of him. There is a serious nexus of politicians-bureaucrats-crony capitalists, who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. (One great example would be the state of Odisha, where such status quo is already maintained via distribution of freebies, will stay the same for at least another decade to come).

 

At macro level, Modi has began well and well begun is half done  how far his growth agenda will percolate at micro level, only time will tell. State elections in every 6 months do no good. A below par performance in UP or Bihar, where voting takes place more on caste and communal lines rather than developmental agenda, will put Modi and his reforms on back foot. Couple of bad monsoons can play spoil sports in a country where still majority of farming is fully dependent on seasonal rainfall. So keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best for his next four years. Good luck to him.