The BJP wins: what now?

The Congress Party has led India into slow decline over the past few years so it is not surprising that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would win but who would have bet on the first outright majority in 30 years. The country’s imminent Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, comes with a lot of baggage from his time as Chief Minister of Gujarat. He is a product of the right wing RSS, the most prominent Hindu Nationalist group in India, and has been criticised for his actions against Muslims notably the violent clash of 2002. I have been to Kutch, Gujarat several times since 1995 and seen the changessuch as the power stations, massive industrial development and two deep-water ports, all examples of exponential growth. But who benefits apart from the owners? Adani’s port was fined heavily by the Environment Ministry for damaging coastal mangroves but that’s peanuts for Adani. Many fishermen have demonstrated about the loss of fishing grounds and many others like the pastoral ethnic communities are losing their cultural inheritance. Some are better paid as industrial labourers but does Mammon rule in this famine belt.

There was huge funding from Central Government after the 2001 earthquake, tax breaks, and land sold cheaply. There has been economic success so will Modi’s model work for this vast country? He has had visas refused by the USA and the UK. Now protocol requires that this new top man be invited to the Western world. There is a lot of ground for him to make up and it is in India’s interest that he does so. Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan has extended an olive branch and ‘seeks a new beginning’ to liberalise trade and people-to-people contact. If he means it that needs testing very hard and a sound resolution agreed. This is not a time for weaselwords.

Given the scale of the win it is likely that the BJP will run for two terms. Modi has promised much for all and expectations are high so he and his government will bear a heavy responsibility. With responsibility comes total liability should he fail. It would be foolish not wish him well and a bit of luck.