Rama Krishna Sangem
Can Prime Minister Narendra Modi adjust to the compulsions of running a coalition government at the Centre? This is the question that is dominating the discussions of everyone since June 4 afternoon as the Lok Sabha results were out. Having won just 242 seats, down 64 from the 2019 tally, BJP is the single largest party, followed by Congress with 99 seats. Ruling NDA with newly inducted TDP got 293 seats, 61 down from the last time tally.
Of course, Narendra Modi is set to return as the Prime Minister for a third term – a record on par with Jawaharlal Nehru decades ago. There would be efforts on the part of INDIA led by Congress to woo some of NDA partners – like Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar of JD(U) – to their side. We hear that Sharad Pawar is in touch with Nitish and some Congress leaders contacted Naidu.
Still, these two leaders will stick to NDA – at least for time being. Finally, Modi will form the new government with the support of present NDA partners in a few days, probably, June 10 or 11. BJP top brass is also in touch with some other parties – BJD or Shiv Sena of Uddhav Thackeray – to make them as NDA allies. Anyway, this will take more time than the expected.
Modi temperament not suitable to coalition
Going by the experience of last 10 years, since 2014 , PM Modi’s temperament is not suitable to run a coalition government at the Centre. He enjoyed full majority for BJP both the first and second terms. He ran the government as per his wishes and never allowed anyone – including seniors like Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley or Nitin Gadkari – to interfere with his decisions on key matters.
What we know is that Modi’s decision to demonetize Rs 1000 notes in 2016 was not shared with anyone in the Cabinet, including the then finance minister Jaitely. Same is the case with his surgical strikes on Pakistan’s borders. Modi himself took decisions in choosing party candidates for the poss of CMs, President of India, Vice President etc. Such was Modi’s command over his government for full 10 years.
Now, Modi will have to deal with seniors like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu to run NDA coalition. Naidu kept a low profile in 2014 as NDA partner because of BJP’s full majority in Lok Sabha. Now, he will definitely raise demands for Andhra Pradesh – including special status etc. Same is the case with Nitish Kumar – who too will demand a lot for his Bihar, to checkmate opposition RJD.
Vajpayee is the model for Modi now
Modi as PM was not easily available to his own ministers and senior BJP leaders. Some union ministers had to wait for weeks together for his appointment. Even Naidu had to wait for several months to meet him and join NDA. Now, that will have to change. Now Modi cannot be inaccessible to his own NDA leaders and ignore their wish lists. He cannot also igore the pressures of BJP MPs too. Now, Modi should take Vajpayee as model for running NDA.
Modi is likely to be ratified as NDA leader on June 7, after which he will stake claim to form the new government. At the same time, INDIA bloc leaders are meeting in Delhi on June 5, to take stock of the situation. As Rahul Gandhi hinted after the results on June 4 evening some clarity will come on if thy too will make any attempts to form a government with the help of Nitish and Naidu.
Coming few days are important for both Modi and BJP.
