We can say that 2023 was the year of antipoles. While political and religious conflicts, centre-state tensions, sports scandals, encroachment of investigative agencies and announcement of competitive welfare schemes etc. have dominated the narrative, the stock market boom, expansion of the entertainment industry, victories in sports and space missions have dominated the narrative. Increased the value of. The new year looks set to repeat the past. In the first half, there may be more indecency and confrontation than before, because the parties will enter the electoral fray. Lies and stupidity will dominate social media. Instead of reliable commentary and news, TV channels will look like arenas filled with the noise of allegations and counter-allegations. To create parties and corporate atmosphere, lakhs of accounts will be created on social media. There will be attempts to defame the opponents through deep fakes. Mainly the echo of the following issues will be heard throughout the year.
There is no alternative to Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image of being invincible and trustworthy has been further confirmed in the recent elections. His words are irrefutable truth for his supporters. ‘Modi’s Guarantee’ is BJP’s new password for the future. Modi will be discussed throughout the year as a Prime Minister who delivers more than promises. There will be posters and boards all over the country. His presence will continue to reach the voters through physical, emotional and electronic means. He has spent more time outside Delhi than any other Prime Minister and has boosted the party’s morale across the country. They do not need to re-discover India, as they are well aware of the country’s diversities. He has fulfilled his Hindutva agenda, but in 2024 he will have to deliver more development. Modi’s economics of welfare schemes may get him votes, but it may weaken economic strength in the long run. They must quickly correct income inequality and focus on wealth distribution so that there is no sign of expanding capitalism. Modi’s only rival is Modi himself. This year they are guaranteed to be even better than their best self.
Reconciling Global India: Will India get temporary membership in the Security Council? Could this be the leader of the Global South? Will relations with neighbors improve? Can India free itself from its image of being an ally of America? Due to Modi being busy in directing the election strategy, Foreign Minister Jaishankar had to meet Putin and diplomatically indicate to maintain equal distance from everyone. Modi’s gains in G-20 should be restored throughout the year. India’s role is not visible in the Gaza conflict. To benefit the Prime Minister’s personal relationships with world leaders, he will have to deal with an aggressive China and Pakistan. In his second term, Modi has spent 240 days visiting 120 countries. Jaishankar’s figure is 290 days. His favorite destination is America. India has made solid progress in creating another diplomatic pressure group against the American camp. Last year, due to US-Russia tension, India could not play an effective role in strategic diplomacy, but this year India will be in a position to influence every global issue.
Situation of the opposition: The idea of creating a solid alternative to the BJP came last year, but ultimately cracks emerged in the opposition camp regarding ideology and leadership. The recent defeat of Congress will force the opposition to unite somehow. Congress is now willing to give equal importance to all parties and negotiate on seat sharing. Congress will put forward leader Rahul Gandhi without his post. His second yatra – Nyay Yatra – will start this month and will continue till the announcement of general elections. The opposition is hoping for a repeat of 2004, when the hugely popular Vajpayee government lost the elections. Then Sonia Gandhi had formed an alliance of various parties and appointed Manmohan Singh, a technocrat with no political importance, to run the country for a decade. Impact of Corporate India: India is the fastest growing economy in the world. Growth is expected to be 7% this year, but disruptions in international and domestic supply chains and inflationary pressures may slow growth. Some sectors may do well from increased rural demand with larger public investment, such as aviation, health, entertainment, tourism and automobiles. If Modi remains in power with majority, there will definitely be corporate growth. The stock market may not be a reflection of India’s actual financial health, but it does reflect investor confidence. The Indian market is narrow because it is controlled by a dominant capitalist group. Sensex has increased from 61 thousand to 72 thousand in a year. The market capitalization of listed companies has increased by almost 30% to about Rs 4 trillion, which is more than India’s GDP.
Ramkaran of India: Politics has been Modiized in the last decade. Now this year is the time to celebrate Indian culture. With the establishment of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will fill the entire country with the pictures of Lord Ram and Modi. BJP and Sangh workers will go from door to door and request to celebrate Diwali. The party wants to draw maximum attention of the world towards this event and present it as a symbol of cultural renaissance in the country. The opposition is faced with the challenge of choosing between ideology and faith.
Republic of India: Will the country be named Bharat this year? Its process had started last year with the invitation of the President. After that Modi invited G-20 leaders as PM of India. It seems that India will replace India. One decade of Modi rule has left an indelible mark on the Indian century. India’s identity is emerging from the fringes of its conflict-ridden past and moving towards the horizon of universal prestige.
(These are the personal views of the author.)