Modi enters 20th year in public office without a break

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN

Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, October 7:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi entered today his 20th year in a public office without a break. It was on October 7 in 2001 that then Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee sent him to Gujarat as its Chief Minister at a time it was reeling under the after effects of a terrible earthquake. He has not looked back since then.

Surviving in office for three consecutive terms as a crucial state’s chief minister, and serving his second term as India’s prime minister without losing an election is being seen as a milestone in the career of a politician whose enduring appeal has helped his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieve pre-eminence at the national level.

Modi, who turned 70 three weeks ago, was drafted from the BJP organisation to serve as chief minister of Gujarat at a time when it was facing discontent. He used his terms terms to lay the foundation for a successful challenge to the Congress Party’s domination at the Centre.

BJP sources say that, of the 19 years of his continuous tenure in public office, Modi’s second and current stint as Prime Minister stands out as quite successful in terms of the quick and effective delivery on poll promises and battling the unprecedented challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5 this year, fulfilling the promise the party had been making through legal means. The temple construction followed the repeal of Article 370, another signature theme of BJP, and banning the practice of triple talaq in the Muslim community, which the ruling party considers a major social reform.

Party sources also count the push for “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India), provision of free foodgrains to millions of underprivileged and vulnerable who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, effective response to Chinese intrusion on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and execution of long-pending reform measures related to labour and farm sector as other highlights of the term.

“We have achieved all this in the face of unprecedented challenges and this is just the beginning. Just wait to see what is going to unfold once things have settled down,” said a senior BJP functionary who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“The Prime Minister has ensured that the election manifesto should be adopted as a vision document for governance and promises made during the polls should be taken seriously and must be delivered,” said a senior party member.

The spell has been marked by the loss of old ally, Shriomani Akali Dal (SAD), but that did not deter the Prime Minister from going ahead with farm sector reforms. “Passage of the farm bill cost the alliance hugely as an old ally Shromani Akali Dal walked out. However, the PM was firm on his decision that the move was crucial to empower farmers and double farmers’ income by 2022,” said another BJP member.

Modi took over as Gujarat chief minister 19 years ago today, soon after the state was devastated after the Bhuj earthquake. However, several moves taken by him like the “Vibrant Gujarat” event played a crucial role in restructuring of the state.

Later, the state became self-sufficient on several fronts including the power production after which the “Gujarat Model” term for development gained popularity, playing a key role in Modi’s country-wide popularity after which BJP announced him as Prime Ministerial candidate in 2013.

Says BJP President J P Nadda: “The reason for Modi’s longevity as an elected leader is his ability to challenge himself continuously, more aggressively than any outside challenger would try to.”

Modi is “both a visionary and a workhorse. He has the necessary mindset to come up with a grand vision as well as the precision and persistence to handle the dryness of quotidian tasks that act as steps to achieve the vision,” adds Nadda.