A determined Congress will be only one of Narendra Modi's many post-elections challenges
Some slogans are created by clever professionals; others are homegrown and invariably tend to become infectious. In Varanasi and, indeed, the whole of the Ganga belt, the BJP was heartened when the slogan “Har har Modi/Ghar ghar Modi” captured the enthusiasm of the youthful activists who discovered in Narendra Modi the next great hope. When this slogan was officially disowned by the BJP thanks to the objection of some Hindu religious figures, the vacuum was quickly filled by a line from the catchy theme song of the BJP campaign song: “Achhe din aane wale hai” (the good days are beckoning).
The choice was perhaps appropriate. Even though many liberal commentators imagined the Modi euphoria of 2014 to have been built on the merciless exploitation of sectarian fault lines, the ground realities argued something completely different. As the campaign progressed, Modi, it would seem, was transformed into a symbol of hope for a better life. The BJP advertisements played on this yearning relentlessly and by the time voters queued before the election booths, the tough guy from Gujarat had acquired the status of India’s great Mr Fix-It.
If Modi wins the election and goes on to occupy the prime minister’s chair, popular expectations are certain to be dizzying. The reality of an economy in dire straits is certain to hit him hard and perhaps contribute to the tempering of the belief in miraculous solutions. However, as important as economic management, Modi will need to address many political roadblocks along the way.
One of the less publicised facets of the BJP campaign was the fact that its prime ministerial candidate had very little say in the selection of candidates. The newly-elected BJP members of the Lok Sabha may well be grateful to Modi for ensuring their victory but a recognition that their prime minister stands above factional politics may take some time to sink in. In the interregnum, there is likely to be a frenetic (and, maybe, unseemly) scramble for the loaves of office. Modi’s natural inclination is to run a lean government and appointing the best available person for a job. But will he have the elbow room to be so focussed?
(This story appears in the 30 May, 2014 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)