Mr. Narendra Modi – the man who made millions of Indians a believe in the jargon of ‘ achche din aane wale hain’ is probably going to be next PM of India. All exit polls are clearly showing majority to BJP led NDA.
After 1984, India has seen record voting for the nine-phased General Election, which saw a record 66.38% overall voter turnout in the history of India’s parliamentary democracy, almost all leading exit polls have predicted that Modi-led BJP will win the popular mandate and the required numbers to form a government at the Centre.
Now the real challenges to Narendra Modi is going to start. Modi made believe this country about new dream of India, has little time to rejoice as he is clearly aware of voters’ high expectations from him and the challenges he faces in reviving the fortunes of the country. There are some of the major challenges, which Modi faces as Prime Minister and key issues, which he needs to address. Among them Economy, minorities,foreign policy, generating employment, implementation of policies and ensure to reach them on ground, managing a good cabinet etc.
Modi has attacked the congress-led UPA government of failing to curb inflation, now the ball will be in his court. His main agenda should be to hold the growing inflation and preventing corruption also to bring back confidence of foreign investors.
The challenge is also to win hearts of minorities. He needs to send a clear cut message about being leader of India not Hindus or muslims.Despite concerted efforts by the BJP central leadership to woo the minorities, the Muslims in India still see the party dominated by Modi – an aggressive, authoritarian and polarising leader – with scepticism. A vigorous campaign by rival parties raking up the issue of 2002 communal riots in Gujarat during their poll campaign has further instilled anxiety in the minority community about the new Modi government. Modi urgently needs to change this perception.
Modi has targeted youth in this elections and now youth of country will be eying to him for what he will be doing for them. Unemployment is the on of big issue before youths today so he needs to tackle this sensitive issue.
On foreign policy as well Modi will have to focus as he always has attacked the Congress-led UPA government for its weak and direction-less foreign policy, and its soft approach towards terrorism. Though the BJP’s election manifesto speaks very little in this regard, it is quite certain that India’s foreign policy will undergo a “sea change” under the Modi government. Modi’s regular criticism of the UPA government for its soft response to terrorist attacks emanating from Pakistan and to Chinese incursions into the Indian territory has created a perception that the new regime will be tough in its dealing with Pakistan and would not succumb to China’s bullying tactics.
With the big economies, especially the United States led by Barack Obama, certainly realising the need to bridge the gap with the Gujarat CM, it would be interesting to see how the NDA regime reciprocates to the hand of friendship extended by the West.
Last but not the least challenge is to make a balancing act with RSS , BJP veteran leaders and cabinet associates. This will be a litmus test for new prime minister of India.
