By the Editor: Siddharth Sehgal

This is an epic moment in Indian political history; this nation has chosen its leader and with an uncontested, unbelievable mandate India has chosen to pursue the vision laid by the man called Narendra Modi. No one doubted that he will come back to power but what was shocking to everyone was the confidence shown in him, no one expected BJP to cross majority single-handedly and yet the incumbent party on its own decimated the 300 mark under PM Modi’s leadership.  So what does his victory and opposition’s loss means for this country?

Narendra Modi’s victory speak a lot about how the mindset of this country has changed, the people saw, and opposition failed to see, a clear decisive leadership in him. Demonetization and surgical and air strikes were seen as hallmark of a leader who can make tough decisions. Youngsters and first time voters in particular identified with his message. Moreover his schemes of constructing toilets, homes and roads in rural communities won him voters who would normally vote on caste lines. Believe it or not, it’s actually not bad to have a 56 inches chest because people have seen how a meek, weak prime minister looks like and PM Modi does not have any charges of personal corruption against him, which is also a very strong point in his favor. Trust me, voters did not even buy Rafael argument and personal attacks from media and opposition only gained PM Modi more public sympathy. The result is in front of everyone.

Opposition on the other hand seems to have no actual connect with the ground reality.  A responsible opposition is necessary for a healthy, functioning democracy but sadly in India opposition is anything but responsible. Just look at resignation drama that is playing out in Congress CWC, those symbol of nepotism are now blaming the loss on regional leaders and their jockeying to set political careers of their sons. In West Bengal, Mamta Banerjee has put her CPI predecessors to shame in opposition persecution. In Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal repelled public by being Arvind Kejriwal.  Only Capt. Amarinder Singh in Punjab and Naveen Patnaik in Orissa have managed to stop the Modi juggernaut in their respective states with some relative success. Bua, babua and sons of Lalu failed to make their caste equations work, though some of their election fiasco credit also goes to coalition mismanagement and division of votes with congress.

India has changed for good, old rules do not apply anymore and this country has made it clear that firm, clean and people centric government is the need of the hour and this election result should not be taken as exception.