Do the PM Modi need a war to win 2019 Parliamentary Elections?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
The suicide attack in Pulwama, Kashmir has the potential to change the election campaign for upcoming 2019 parliamentary elections in India. Media, political parties and civil society in unison are voicing to teach a lesson to Pakistan. The atmosphere is very favourable and ideal to the Bharatiya Janata Party who always counted on Pakistan hatred rhetoric in their election campaigns.
This time around PM Narendra Modi and BJP have nothing to lure Indian voters and facing the biggest electoral challenge so far. PM Modi, before becoming Prime Minister, promised the inclusive growth, job creation, good days for all especially for poor and also vowed to bring back black money and deposit Rs.15 lakh to every Indian citizen’s bank account. Instead, after five years, the dream of good days are not only still distant but seems ever more hard to reach for poor. Also, the failed attempt of demonetisation fueled unemployment that reached 40 years high. The farmers, largest vote bank share in the country, not happy with the BJP government and protesting every month in major cities. According to an Oxfam report, 73% of Indians think inequality needs to be addressed urgently. The shrinking space for minorities, not only the Muslims, sane voices in civil society, journalist and academia are facing ever increasing intolerance under this current BJP government. PM Modi’s grandiose promises have begun to bite.
This time the opposition parties are also stronger and united against the BJP and PM Modi.
Congress’s recent hat-trick win against the BJP in the Hindi-speaking heartland of India has seen a direct threat to Brand Modi. Especially winning the states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh that considered the stronghold of BJP. The masterstroke of introducing Priyanka Gandhi right before the elections and the overwhelming response in her first roadshow in Lucknow, earlier this month, must have increased the anguish of BJP and PM Modi. This also restored the faith of Congress workers in Gandhi’s family leadership.
The timing of this unfortunate incident coincides with Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav’s hearing at International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Prince MBS visit to Pakistan and most importantly just before the start of BJP’s election campaign. The culprits of Pulwama attack like to overshadow both the events evidently not in the favours of Pakistan.
When the casket of 44 Central Reserve Police Force soldiers went to 18 different cities of India, the poor families, who sent their son to earn some few rupees, must be wondering where is Mr Modi’s 56-inch chest to deal with Pakistan.
So how PM Modi, BJP and Sangh Parivar can win upcoming 2019 elections and remain in power? Surely not by their performance nor on the same promises, corruption and competency allegations on the previous government. A strong opposition joining hands with regional parties and above all below average performance of PM Modi are the two fronts BJP need to fight in this elections. Only a war hysteria and more polarisation can please the hardliner Hindus and save the day for them.
There is a strong possibility that anti-Pakistan emotions and revenge will become the central theme of India’s upcoming parliamentary elections campaign which always benefited the BJP.
If it is a matter of Indian elections only than why the world needs to worry.? Considering, It is unlike the 2001 parliament and 2008 Mumbai attacks when Congress was in government and Pakistan had a, relatively, good relations with the United States of America. This time it is different, PM Modi and BJP with full of arrogance and hubris, will not shy to do anything in their way to win the 2019 national elections. The hostile atmosphere created by Indian warmongers in past five years is so conducive for a new small scale war that can win BJP this election. And if India makes an adventure on Kashmir border the region can suffer from a nuclear war. PM Modi and BJP will use such action for their political benefit.
Modi Government’s decision about Pakistan will decide not only the internal politics of India but the region at large as well. The political leadership in both countries has given free-hand to their armies to deal with this situation. This is very unfortunate for the democratic institutions in both countries where such critical decisions are assigned to the non-elected army generals who are not trained for dialogue, diplomacy and peace but war. Only the sincere dialogues can prevent future stand-off, and we need to give all our energies all the right reasons for this and our future generations.
