Even before the election results were declared; ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ had become a catchy slogan for party workers across the country. There is no way to point out if it was pushed by party workers; for I know before it got onto everyone’s tongue, I was discussing the same idea with a few friends of mine saying that it has the power to translate into buzz words for 2024. And, voila!
‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ in a few weeks, is on front page of national dailies. How did this happen? What does this entail? And, what is its impact?
Take the case of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Ram Janmbhoomi movement has been an inflection point in the history of independent India. In the late 1980s and early 1990s; the Sangh parivar and Bhartiya Janata Party took the case of Ram Janmbhoomi and it transformed into a national movement for the BJP. PM Narendra Modi was then an organisational leader within the BJP and he was in charge of some responsibilities during the Ram Rath Yatra. The cause of Ram Mandir caught national attention and the BJP was rewarded by voters, taking its tally of MPs from 2 to 82. In late 1990s, it came to power under the PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee led National Democratic Alliance. However, in 2004, surprising and shocking many, the Congress led Unite Progressive Alliance came to power and the cause of Shri Ram took a backseat. But, not for the BJP.
In 2013, after it became clear that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would be the BJP’s candidate for Prime Minister in the upcoming General elections; the party began discussions, deliberations etc. with different stakeholders. PM Modi led from the front and made it clear the Ram Mandir was an important agenda for the BJP. The elections may have been fought and won on the idea of Modi’s ‘Good’ Governance model in Gujarat but the cultural undertone was clear to the PM and his commander, now Home Minister, Amit Shah.
PM Modi, his government and the BJP continued to work for the coming years. But, time and again, the cause of Ram Mandir came up. Opposition would leave no opportunity to remind the PM of the cause of the temple. The critics were loud. They did everything to not only taunt but tried everything possible to establish that for BJP, it was just a political agenda to garner Hindu votes. One said, “Mandir Wahin Banayenge. Par Tareekh nahiin batayenge.” [(They) will make the Ram Temple. But won’t share the dates”] In fact, murmurs for select group of right-wing intellectuals also rose. In contrast, PM Modi was hard at work in the background. Under his leadership, the case of Ram Mandir was strengthened, the civil situation was brought under control and as we now know, a magnificent Ram Mandir is being readied for opening just before the Republic Day, 2024.
Ram Mandir, is only a case in point. In fact, it emboldens PM Modi’s idea of reviving cultural economy. However, there are many more achievements that PM Modi’s over nine years of tenure can be credited with. Be it healthcare improvement, digital economy & good governance, internal security or sanitation; PM Modi has delivered on the commitments he made in 2014. Hence, even when there is doubt or argument that PM Modi has not delivered on, my usual response is-it’s a work in progress; PM is at it.
It is these accomplishments or rather delivery on the promises made that gets reflected in polls. It can be well reasoned that voters of India have shown trust on PM Modi for two primary reasons. First, Designing plans & policies and implementing it with the sole objective of doing something for the last man in the queue there by working for Antyodaya, the philosophy of Deendayal Upadhyaya. This is the PM Modi’s driving force and it reaps him benefits when the nation gets to polls. Secondly, there is also an underlying trust that PM Modi is going to continue in power. And, since he is going to be in power, he is going to continue with his working style of making large, almost overwhelming goals and deliver on these commitments. Since, he is going to be in power because of his work; voters get consolidated around him.
This is visible in electorates’ judgement about a clear mandate. The electoral results in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh are telling. Everyone who doubted or believed otherwise; was dumbstruck as the early projections leaned towards BJP. By afternoon, it was clear that PM Modi’s leadership stays unchallenged. The process of refinement of Indian democracy is on and a continuous one. In the process, fringe political players who used to blackmail ruling party/coalitions are no more trusted by voters. Their relevance declines and the single gravitating factor stays-PM Modi.
Arjun S. Kadian is an Academic and Author based out of Delhi.