Daily Times

Indian economy under Modi is as unadministered like Ganga River under both, Modi and of the ten years of Manmohan Singh. National economy and the most sacred river required revamping, sustainability and perspective planning to run them with impactful smoothness. Today both are in dismal form, worse than five years ago. In December 2018, Bloomberg reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign tours and his government’s advertising blitz over the past four-and-a-half years have cost Indian taxpayers almost $920 million. The globe-trotting prime minister’s 84 foreign trips around the world cost roughly $280 million while the government spent $640 million on promoting Modi’s flagship projects, successes and achievements. Once the Lee Kuan Yew of the South Asia, Mr Nitish Kumar and Chief Minister of Bihar spent Rs 4.9 billion in last year on advertisement through print and electronic media. Previously, Mr Kumar has been admired by Imran Khan and former Chief Minister of Punjab Mr Shahbabz Sharif over his projected transformation of the Bihar. Currently Bihar has hardly 1.5% of India’s industries whereas unemployment is 11.65%, compared with India’s average of 7.1%. On Ganga, 80% earmarked budget is unutilized, Rs 100 million is spent on development but Rs 400 million have been spent on advertisement. The kind of India in future has been decided by the voters but to be known on May 23.

Though Muslims comprise 14% of the total population of India but the ruling BJP has fielded only seven Muslim candidates in the ongoing general election. BJP is contesting 437 seats in the 545-member lower house of parliament. It fielded the same seven candidates in 2014 too, but none of them won

600 million out total 900 million of voters have completed their casting of votes on May 19, 2019. Some 100 million have cast their vote first time. The evening of May 23, 2019 will decide who will be the prime minister of India till 2024. Will Mr Modi again or some one from UPA? Surveys, exit polls and predictions offer two main points. This time there is no Modi wave of 2014, UPA will also rise from 44 up to every one’s own imagination, from 90 seats to 120 and may be more. Silent majority of Hindus and Muslims may vote predominately to congress led UPA. BJP may lose few seats from UP. UP has 80 seats from the total 545 seats of Lok Sabha, government formation needs 272 and opposition leader needs 55. Apart from all predictions, probably BJP with allies will again form next government, as Mr Modi has been rescued by the Pulwama episode. If there were no Pulwama attack, there must be a different scenario. Voters must have tested Modi’s previous slogans of 2014. Now corporate media houses have a massive support to Mr India. Mr Modi has been projected as the only mahaan and the whole election is being run on Pakistan. Mr Modi has successfully obliterated any questioning on the performance of sab ka sath sab ka vikas from the minds of voters despite the fact that on February 27 IAF lost two of its fighter jets by the shots of PAF jets and the captured pilot Mr Abhinandan was sent back with dignity from Pakistan. But still it’s the mastery of Mr Modi and the supportive media houses that Hindi heartland voters, cow belt diehards deem Mr Modi far better than the challenging Mr Rahul Gandhi and allies. Its another point that Mr Modi has lowered whole electioneering on Pakistan only. In 1998 BJP government led by Mr AB Wajpai made nuclear tests to bolster India’s image. Pakistan responded with six nuclear tests soon and equalized India’s score inclusive of smiling Buddha tested in 1974. Nuclear tests and Kargil war did not favour BJP in 2004 election. But this time BJP may not be ousted. Today’s India has metamorphosed into a more communal, more divisive and more aggressive towards Muslims. Traditionally and comparatively Congress has been more tolerant. Pundit Nehru chose Maulana Abul Kalam Azad minister for education from 1947 to till his death in 1958. Though Muslims comprise 14% of the total population of India but the ruling BJP has fielded only seven Muslim candidates in the ongoing general election. BJP is contesting 437 seats in the 545-member lower house of parliament. It fielded the same seven candidates in 2014 too, but none of them won. It was the first time in the history of India’s that the government had no Muslim members of parliament. In the 2014 election, Congress contested 464 seats but fielded just 31 Muslim candidates. Only seven won. Much hasn’t changed in the current election. Congress has fielded only 32 Muslims of the party’s 423 candidates. This time probably less than seven will win.

Unlike BJP’s rule of 1999-2004, in 2014 Mr. Modi eschewed shining India for the next five years and instead contrived “sab ka sath, sab ka vikas” (inclusive development of all) and with minimum government, maximum governance. But knew his visible failure on election slogans. Today India is having the highest rate of unemployment (7.1%) of the last 45 years. India needs ten million jobs every year for the yearly qualifying youth. BJP government under Mr Modi could only create less than half of the required jobs. Last year 93000 candidates applied for the 62 vacancies of messengers of tele communication wing of UP police.

The writer is an alumnus of Potsdam Centre for Public Management Germany and of Geneva Centre for Security Policy Switzerland