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After US midterm elections, India needs to build bridges with more Congress members

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New Delhi will have to cautiously watch the situation and be ready to convince US Congress to boost India’s national interest.

The US midterm election results have tilted the balance in the House of Representatives in favour of the Democrats, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government now needs to increase its contacts with the new members of Congress.

The midterm elections, marking two years of President Donald Trump in the White House, is probably the first countrywide test of his popularity and the Republican Party’s future prospects in 2020. The US Congress made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate are now controlled by two parties, the Democrats in the House of Representatives and the Republicans in the Senate. The midterm election results, seen more as a referendum of Trump’s policies, are important for New Delhi to study and take note of.

Although these results do not necessarily impact Trump’s foreign policy, they could, however, impact the decision-making process in Congress. Prominent among those who have won in the midterm elections are former presidential candidate Mitt Romney who has returned to the public stage after winning a Senate seat in Utah. Mike Pence’s brother Greg Pence has won from the Vice-President’s former House of Representative seat in Indiana. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders and a few potential Democratic presidential candidates — Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand — have all been re-elected to the Senate.


Also read: US midterm polls: Voter anger with Donald Trump hands Democrats House control


While Trump has hailed the Senate results as a “great victory” for his party and policies, the Democrats have already begun to interpret the results as a negative vote for Trump and are looking to block his policies in the House.

When the House of Representative meets in January 2019, it is likely to elect a strong anti-Trump person to lead the attack on Trump. Besides, the Democrats will control all of the Committees that will be crucial in making policies and implementing them.

There is a growing clamour among the Democrat voters for the impeachment of Trump, but the lawmakers know that it is easier said than done. Without sufficient numbers in the Senate and the support of Republican Senators opposed to Trump, the House can only initiate impeachment proceedings but not get it passed in the Senate. Going by the speeches made by Nancy Pelosi, the Democrats are likely to cooperate with the Trump administration in domestic politics and strategise to gain greater support from youth and women voters.

While the Modi-Trump equation seems to be working well for New Delhi, just as the Modi-Obama equation did, it is difficult to tell if New Delhi will find the relations smooth if there is a confrontation in the US Congress. Needless to say, India will have to invest more into networking and build bridges with a greater number of Congress representatives.


Also read: Why foreign policy could be the top election issue in 2019


It is important for the parties in the US to have sound economic policies to win elections. Trump registered a stunning and surprising victory, albeit with a thin margin, two-and-a-half years back with the promise of “America First”. Subsequently, his attempts to improve the employment situation and set right the balance of trade with China have had mixed results. While New Delhi has refused to toe the American line on China, it has been able to balance its relationship with both powers by adopting a middle path, which it must continue.

Midterm elections are very important anywhere in a democracy. India is facing its own mini-midterm, if one may like to call them so, in the coming months. The three states, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, all ruled by the BJP are facing the litmus test of popularity. Although local factors are likely to impact the outcome of these state elections, it will be unwise to believe that the factors that affect national elections are unimportant in state elections.

Unlike the US, state election results do not impact the Centre’s foreign policy decisions in India. But the Tamil Nadu parties that were supporting the previous UPA coalition government did arm-twist Manmohan Singh’s policy towards Sri Lanka. So much so, that Singh had to skip the CHOGM Summit in Colombo in November 2013 under pressure from these parties.


Also read: Nearly a dozen Indian-Americans emerge as competitive contenders in the US midterm elections


India’s foreign policy architects have carefully laid out the rules of engagement as far as various world capitals are concerned. Over a period, change of guard at the Centre does not necessarily affect the decision-making process of the ministry of external affairs, which essentially looks after national interest in foreign affairs. Unlike the US, the party in power in India goes by traditions and a collective decision-making process more than by the personal likes, dislikes and opinions of the leader of the party in power.

While observers of US foreign policy would differ in their view of the direction the nation may take, New Delhi will have to cautiously watch the situation, keep its channels open with both the parties in the US and be ready to bring around the White House into boosting India’s national interest when it comes to policies that will impact Asia, its periphery and the geopolitical balance in the region.

The author is former editor of ‘Organiser’.

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1 COMMENT

  1. The midterms expectedly threw up a credible checks and balances system over Trump’s overarching decisions. The Dems have pledged to undertake robust oversight over the executive decisions by Trump. However, one might not foresee any drastic change over broad foreign policy, save a increased effort in mollifying European partners. India might have to increase lobbying with newer members. There is scepticism over Pelosi’s elevation to Speaker, given her controversial past and propensity to cut deals with Trump. The next two years are likely to be gridlocked.
    For India, one crucial topic would be Afghanistan. Trump might push for some form of rapprochement in the run up to 2020. A troops pullout might earn him valuable goodwill at re-election. North Korea is unlikely to give him the accolades he seeks.

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