According to veteran journalist and geopolitical expert Fareed Zakaria, in a period where voters globally are rejecting ruling parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defied the pattern by winning a significant third term.
During a one-on-one interview with India Today News Director Rahul Kanwal, Zakaria discussed the reasons why India did not follow the trend of voters in the US, UK, and other democracies who chose to vote out their ruling parties.
“Pretty much every incumbent party throughout the world suffered significant setbacks or was voted out of office. Modi is probably the most important exception,” Zakaria said.
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Another significant factor, as Zakaria pointed out, is PM Modi’s long-lasting popularity and being seen as an outsider.
Despite winning the elections for the third time in a row, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) saw a decrease in the number of seats for the BJP, the party that heads the alliance. Zakaria suggested that the BJP was forced to reassess its politics due to the smaller margin of victory.
Zakaria highlighted the BJP’s strong, focused, and well-funded campaign in the assembly elections, surpassing the opposition’s efforts.
Zakaria also noted a heightened emphasis on ‘vikas’ (progress and advancement). Modi’s political resolve is being strongly demonstrated. In terms of policies, Modi is strengthening his focus on the growth agenda. He is persisting in his efforts to promote infrastructure and related initiatives, which is greatly appreciated.
(Credits: India Today)
