The rise and rise of Narendra Modi : The 12 years political journey
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 10 , 2014 -

Rewind 12 years back, when he was vilified, crucified, slammed, called the 'butcher of Gujarat', when everyone seemed to be against him including the media, especially the English media, the so called English speaking elites, the 'secularists', denied a visa by the USA and even drew criticism from some of his own party men after one of the worst communal riots in the country that claimed the lives of hundreds if not thousands of Muslims which some, and we would like to be honest here, including The Sangai Express, called it a pogrom.

Fast forward by 12 years and now he is the man of the moment, suddenly a favourite with the media, including the English media with even some section of the American media calling him a fashion icon.

This is Narendra Modi.

As in life, nothing is certain in politics too and the political journey of the man from Gujarat in the last 12 years should bear testimony to this.

A polarising figure, that was what he was dubbed before the recent Lok Sabha election, with even the JD (U) under Nitish Kumar breaking the more than a decade old ties with the BJP when Modi was pitchforked as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP.

May 16, 2014 this was the day that Mr Modi and the BJP set a date with history, beating all poll pundits by crossing the magic figure of 272 to reach 282.

This is now history, but what is noteworthy is the manner in which Mr Modi has gotten down to the business of taking over the office of Prime Minister.

Launching the 100 days action plan programme, doing away with the Empowered Group of Ministers and Group of Ministers, issuing strict instructions to the top bureaucrats to deliver on time and do away with any system that delays official works and yes scripting some sort of a history by becoming the first Prime Minister of the country to invite all the heads of State of SAARC during his swearing in function.

The march to Rajghat was more than a march.

Rather it was a march pregnant with meaning and in paying his respect to the real Gandhi, it was a gesture which clearly conveyed the message that India need not rely any longer on a single family to run it affairs.

Now with Mr Modi more or less drawing up a road map, at least for the next 100 days, it is not surprising to see speculations doing the round here in Manipur.

Are the days of Mr Ibobi numbered, is a question that has been doing the round ever since the BJP whipped the Congress at the hustings.

Will there be a vertical split within the Congress Legislature Party, is another question that has been raised more often than not.

The speculations are not without reason, for the past has more than shown that when Delhi sneezes, Imphal invariably catches a cold.

However Mr Modi has more than indicated that he is not from the stable of the Congress, which can be interpreted as stating that he would not accept any breakaway group from a party ruling over a State, into the fold of the BJP.

A principled stand, one may say.

This is however not to say that everything is hunky dory now. On the shoulder of Mr Modi rests the massive expectations of the largest democracy in the world.

The road ahead is certainly not going to be easy.

There is the economic downslide that has to be dealt with. Inflation is another headache and if the Monsoon fails this year, he will face more problems.

There is also the question of the armed movements in Kashmir, the North East and the Naxalites.

Moreover he has to deal with the question of influx from Bangladesh in Assam and the border row with China.

The new Prime Minister has a difficult terrain ahead to negotiate and it would not only be premature but also immature to scale his performance as the Prime Minister of the country now.

However the feel good factor is there and this augurs well for the country.