Defiant push to change Constitution

Commentators described the BJP-led government as a minority’ government that will force Mr Modi to be more circumspect and restrained. I did not share that view. They thought that Mr Modi will be more deferent to Parliament, but that too was belied by the Winter session. Apparently, on Mr Modi’s instructions, the ministers and MPs carried on in the usual aggressive way, Showed scant respect to Parliamentary rules and conventions, and rode roughshod over the Opposition

SHORTLY AFTER THE Lok Sabha elections in 2024, I predicted that the BJP-led government will continue to run the country as it had in the two earlier terms. The BJP's reduced strength of 240 seats (below the simple majority mark) was no deterrent because crucial support was provided by the TDP (16 seats) and the JD-U (12 seats).

The other allies boosted the total of the NDA to 293-not very different from the 'BJP only' numbers of 282 (2014) and 303 (2019). Mr Narendra Modi quickly convinced his party members and allies that he enjoyed the same support of the people as in 2014 and 2019. The initial nervousness of the elected NDA MPs vanished.

Arrogance was back Commentators described the BJP-led government as a 'minority' government that will force Mr Modi to be more circumspect and restrained. I did not share that view. They thought that Mr Modi will be more deferent to Parliament, but that too was belied by the Winter session. Apparently, on Mr Modi's instructions, the ministers and MPs carried on in the usual aggressive way, showed scant respect to Parliamentary rules and conventions, and rode roughshod over the Opposition. Sample the dismissive and accusatory interventions of the normally polite Mr Rajnath Singh and the usually restrained Mrs Jaishankar Mr Kiren Rijiju was back to his arrogant ways.