In the latest episode of News ka Juice, Barkha Dutt says that Modi, once considered invincible, is suddenly faced with unexpected political challenges and obstacles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a problem.
Or two.
Or, more accurately, four.
The first was obvious. In his interview to news agency ANI,
By ruling out an immediate ordinance for a mandir in Ayodhya,
Modi could not have made the Sangh Parivar too happy.
Remember what RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said in December?
And, sure enough, an official RSS tweet swiftly tailed the Modi interview…
Reminding him that they expected a temple in this term.
Given the furious whispers that the Sangh is unhappy with Modi and Amit Shah…
Modi finds himself in a tight spot.
Suddenly he is not far-Right enough for his core base…
And not centre-Right enough for non-Hindutva voters.
Maybe Modi knows that the Ram mandir has diminishing returns.
Or maybe his hands are tied by the court process.
Either way, the mandir issue is proving to be more of a hurdle than a help.
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Which brings us to Problem No 2.
What slogan will Modi fight 2019 on?
In 2014, it was Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.
In 2019, is it nationalism…?
Hindutva…?
Governance…?
The economy…?
The PM will not or cannot say demonetisation is a mistake.
Agrarian distress and lack of jobs could be a political albatross…
So, what will be his new campaign call?
In the Modi interview…
The 56-inch machismo of the past seemed to have been consciously shelved…
For a more prime ministerial tone.
Not as strident. Gentler, more accommodating.
Remember, the prime minister, in my opinion, is less ideological and more of a legacy seeker.
He has reinvented himself several times in the past.
But if there is a new Modi avatar again, we haven’t seen it clearly yet.
If its centrists and fence-sitters he wants to woo…
What is his new narrative?
So far, he hasn’t offered one and will be judged on the promises of 2014.
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Problem No. 3
The downside to being a strongman politician…
Is that everyone is waiting for you to trip and fall.
Within the BJP, and especially among allies, both old ones and potential partners…
Narendra Modi and his second in-command Amit Shah have instilled fear but no liking.
Allies have begun to assert themselves…
Nitish Kumar extracted an equal number of seats for himself in Bihar…
Uddhav Thackeray wants the Sena to get the chief minister’s post in Maharashtra…
There is simmering discontent among the Akalis.
Channels are already open between regional parties in the northeast and south to create a block within the larger NDA.
If Modi’s numbers fall below 200…
The allies may push back.
What they say privately today could become public.
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And, finally,
Narendra Modi’s Problem No. 4…
Rahul Gandhi.
In the last few months, Gandhi has been setting the agenda…
And the BJP has been responding, and reacting.
In many ways, Rahul Gandhi has learnt to use the Modi playbook against him.
The power of the photo op, for instance…
Was a Modi specialty.
Then came the hug…
And the wink.
And, suddenly, Rahul too had captured the headlines.
The relentless focus on Rafale…
Has also worked at the level of political rhetoric…
Yes, most people neither understand the details…
And, almost no one knows how to pronounce it.
But the discussion in Parliament…
Has brought the fighter jet deal back into the headlines.
Rahul’s narrative seems to be rooted in his suit-boot ki sarkar swipe.
His aim…
Make the voter belief that the BJP is soft on big business while poor farmers are driven to suicide.
The front foot and defensive positions between the BJP and Rahul Gandhi have been swapped.
In 2014, Modi was the message…
In 2019, we await a new message and a new Narendra Modi.
June 2019 shows that the author of opinion article has been a clueless narrator. Please find an alternate, meaningful service function to serve citizens of India. Perhaps, get some essential training on creative and useful, respectful productivity.
Prime Minister Modi’s boat is just sinking. It is difficult to change the horses in the mid stream. This is a simple message.
Not much Modi and his BJP can retrieve to save the political tilt against them. The UP is going the sane way yo lose half of its MPs. We have no doubt about the outcome. Yogi Baba would like fall like pins.
The writing on the wall should be understood,
Mrs Dutt, what is the alternative to BJP and Modi?? Congress and Rahul Gandhi?? The last time I voted for Congress was when Narsimha Rao came to power. The party after that when too socialist, Nepotic and corrupt and perhaps with the most inactive and inadequate leadership. Do you seriously believe that Rahul Gandhi who can barely speak without being tutored by his toadies has the intelligence and the intellectual maturity to lead anything! The only reason he is there because being Mama’s boy And a Gandhi. On his own he wouldn’t even make it as Block representative.
Modi atkeast has good ideas and has been able to take the forward with some gusto. Yes there have been issues but in a complicated and complex country like ours a small transformation is extremely difficult. And yes there have been loony elements but I seriously believe that the press grossly exaggerates.
Congress has good leaders but they are not allowed to come up Incase they shadow the dynasty. And I think Modi and BJP is best qualified to take the country forward
She can’t hear you; she may have been promised an Upper House seat on the condition that she should continue to rant. I use the word ‘rant’ because her journalism lacks integrity.
Rahul is threat to Congress. NaMo NaMo till 2029. This is beyond understanding of many Prestitutes. But doesn’t matter as people have brains.
And every time he gets into problem some people gets the tinge of happiness
Journalist like Barkha Duty, congress sponsored, will still cry that Modi is not an independent but governed by Nagpur. Shame on such biased journalist
I don’t know about Modi, but this writer has a big problem with truth.
The author of this misbegotten piece, I think, is the only person who thinks Rahul Gandhi is a problem for Modi. I don’t think even Rahul Gandhi has such high opinions about himself. That’s something!
Modi ji is certainly invincible to some journos who think Hindutva is his agenda for winning 2019 election.He doesn’t believe in creating narrative.If there’s any it’s providing clean,open&honest govt.And he has succeeded in his endeavour.It’s his concept of Swatch Bharat or free LGP to BPL families may not be achievement for Cong.There are pitfalls of each& every policy may be also with DeMo/GST.Every one was crying for price rise but on one is today isn’t it relief for middle class.Rural distress is there that needs to address & may be failure on part of Modi govt.Crying wolf by Rahul Gandhi can’t creat narrative for voter.Let us wait
Barkha Dutt has only one problem -she considers rest of Indians as brainless.
Narendra Modi is not having any problem but Burkha Dutta is having problem of day blindness. People will vote for him only. Burkha changed the rider and changed her philosiphy into match the rider. Not all Indian changed their rider. Wait. The print will not allow this as it is true nationalism
Without RSS no leader can survive or win elections. Vajpayee is classical example. It is double standard. As for RG is still long way to set agenda.
Out of 4 Only last point about Rahul is correct but Rahul is certified Dumb and he cannot last long on borrowed legs. Indians have started realising that Rafale and other lies of Congress are Media supported and after state elections they have realised their mistake even PM is not exposing himself much and waiting for the Final battle against Enemies of India and Kerala,Bengal and now Kamalnath has opened the eyes of Hindus to the potential danger to their very existence BJP will again Win because Lord Krisna ha said when the pot of Evil is full he will definitely strike and now the Evil of lies communalism and AntiHindu forces are at its peak.
Lootyens narrative is on since May 2014. Crying hoarse won’t carry it through.
Modi doesn’t have four problems. He has only one problem – himself. That he has no truthfulness in him.
Classical piece of speculative journalism. Who says Modi did not create enough jobs: at least all journalists seem to be employed !!
Take a bow…Good observation
Prime Minister’s statesmanlike statement that the government awaits the Supreme Court’s verdict and will take further steps in accordance with it gets my vote. Listen to party, ideological parent, allies, loyal base, but then decide in accordance with the solemn oath to uphold the Constitution. In the segment of the interview where Naseeruddin Shah’s name was mentioned, saw a flash of anger when PM condemned lynching. He has to carry a lot of people with him, but when some of them go off the charts, it is his government that picks up the tab.