Diversity will be the hallmark of the new Parliament building. The sanitised environs of Sansad Bhawan are set to resonate with different languages, louder slogans, sharper opinions, and hopefully meaningful debates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is returning to his post for a third term, and he does so with a new reality and visibly less firepower. He will face an energised opposition led by Rahul Gandhi, and he would have to rely on allies like the Chandrababu Naiduled Telugu Desam Party and the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), who have shaken the BJP-led alliance in the past.
That the BJP fell short of a majority by 32 seats, and of its own target of 370 by 130 seats, means that it would have to change its approach to governance. Early signs are already showing.
At his victory speech on June 4, the poster behind Modi carried a ‘Thank You’ message for the people written in all the official languages, and not just in Hindi as was the practice earlier. This was not a ‘Modi sarkar’, but an NDA one.
This, significantly, ushers in a return to the coalition era of the 1990s, when prime ministers had to rely on allies to govern and use a language of consensus to maintain harmony in Parliament and on the streets. The NDA was formed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee on May 15, 1998, with support from parties and leaders known for their anti-Congress stance. A quarter of a century later, Modi would potentially have to adopt a Vajpayee-like approach to keep his allies close. His party, too, will need to temper its message as it grows in states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Kerala.
“We will work with all state governments, including those led by any party,” said Modi. “We will work hard for a Viksit Bharat. This is not the time to stop, but to move forward. The Constitution is our guiding document. We will celebrate the 75 years of the Constitution in a big way this year.”
Denne historien er fra June 16, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 16, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Political discourse needs red line
The state of political discourse presently on display must surely seem like the norm to younger Indians, who might not have had any exposure to a more tolerant, courteous brand of adversarial politicking. Yet, as their parents would know, this was not always so.
Road to Paris, via India
All roads at Paris Fashion Week seemed to lead to India this season, even as the world’s most celebrated fashion week wound up earlier this week.
PURE MAGIC
A Potterhead and a Downton Abbey fan remembers Dame Maggie Smith
All eyes on Sharvari
A ₹130-crore blockbuster, unequivocal acclaim for two other films, and an upcoming release with Alia Bhatt as co-star— here is the girl Bollywood can’t get enough of
Priyamvada, the glittering star
A sheepish confession: I was dreadfully unaware of the super celebrity status of the very attractive, highly accomplished co-speaker at the just concluded Jaipur Literature Festival International’s first edition in Seattle.
For God's sake, do something!
Plip!…. Plip!….Plip!” “Do Something! For God’s sake, do something!” she wailed.
IT'S SHOWTIME!
The Coldplay mania shows the power of live entertainment and its immense business opportunity
Trump will not concede if he loses narrowly
In his book, All in the Family, Fred C. Trump III, reminisces about the night when Donald Trump decided to run for president for the first time.
EAR TO THE NEIGHBOUR'S GROUND
Not just at Nanda Devi, America's CIA and India’s Intelligence Bureau set up listening devices to monitor China at Khardung La, too
LALU NO LONGER ACTIVE; NITISH ALMOST A LAME-DUCK CHIEF MINISTER
Sheikhpura House is, at the moment, one of the most sought-after addresses in Patna.