It seems as if Prime Minister Modi has kicked off his 2024 election campaign with the G20 meeting. This is what the Opposition is claiming, and certainly, given the amount of interest and hype around the event, this could well be the case. News channels have been encouraged to hold conclaves around India’s role in the G20 and its place of pride on the world stage with cabinet ministers in attendance. The capital is abuzz with hoardings, banners and related events, all creating a heightened atmosphere of frenzied excitement that the city hasn’t seen in a long time. Given the number and importance of dignitaries headed towards Delhi, local residents have been advised to either stay at home or plan a mid-week break out of the city.
And in the centre of all this international excitement is the man of the moment (well, man of the last decade actually) —Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is occupying the centre stage with his usual flair and aplomb. The subtext of all this global limelight is the impending general elections next year, an event that is never out of the Prime Minister’s sight. Expect to hear a lot about a successful G20 in the months to come. And some would say, why not?
It is not just the international stage that India is currently at the centre of, for after the Chandrayaan landing, India is also at the centre of the cosmic stage. And there too, representing India in all its glory is the man leading the nation, the Prime Minister himself. How can the Opposition compete with such international and cosmic glory?
The one way it can be is if it focuses on the local issues —the India Shining Trap of rising prices, unemployment and whether development has made the last mile connect. If it succeeds in convincing the people that there is a lag between the BJP narrative and the on-ground reality, then the Opposition has a fighting chance. It all boils down to the price of tomatoes.
