Doesn’t Look Like ‘Acche Din’! Is PM Modi Losing his Popularity or What?

Doesn’t Look Like ‘Acche Din’! Is PM Modi Losing his Popularity or What?

There were hardly around 100 people gathered around the vicinity of Circuit House near Kadri Police Station to wave goodbye to PM Narendra Modi when he exited out of Circuit House on his way to Mangaluru International Airport to board his helicopter to Lakshadweep in the morning. Even though a large crowd of BJP members had gathered at MIA last night (around midnight) to welcome their beloved Pm, but this morning saw hardly any crowd to say goodbye to him. Apart from a bunch of Modi supporters, there were a few commuters waiting for their respective buses, and also motorists who had no other option but to wait after being stopped by the cops- to watch PM Modi go by them. So is Modi beginning to lose his popularity? Is it because of the Demonetization or introduction of GST that his ratings are coming down?

Mangaluru: One of the reasons why Narendra Modi swept to victory with a historic mandate in 2014 was his combative and upbeat oratory. Three years on, the Indian prime minister is beginning to sound unusually defensive. Many say Modi’s characteristic bluster and bombast have begun to wane. In recent speeches, he has described his critics as doomsayers, blamed the previous Congress government for India’s economic ills, painted himself as an “outsider” and said he was “willing to drink poison” for the good of the country. Has the victor turned victim? So is Modi beginning to lose his popularity? Three years ago, when he won his landslide victory, he promised reforms and jobs. But under his leadership – and at a time when the world economy appears to be taking off – India is looking like a sorry outlier, battling an economic slowdown and a jobs crisis.

This morning there were hardly around 100 people gathered around the vicinity of the Circuit House near Kadri Police Station to wave goodbye to PM Narendra Modi when he exited out of the Circuit House at around 7:15 am on his way to Mangaluru International Airport to board his helicopter to Lakshadweep in the morning. Even though a large crowd of BJP members had gathered at MIA last night (around midnight) to welcome their beloved PM, but this morning saw hardly any crowd to say goodbye to him. Apart from a bunch of Modi supporters, there were a few commuters waiting for their respective buses.

There was not much of a hoopla going on either, during this time of Modi’s visit- it was kind of silent and simple. Speaking to Team Mangalorean an entrepreneur, who wanted to remain anonymous, (when asked how come he is sitting in the park and not even bothered to have a look at PM when he leaves the Circuit House)- said, “Why should I? Modi screwed up my business by introducing GST in a hurry, and many of us businessmen are facing the brunt of it”.

And like what Minister UT Khader said yesterday briefing the media persons, “The poll results are a set back for BJP. The Gujarat election results have ushered changes in politics. Congress party had secured more votes and seats in comparison to previous elections. The results thus reveal that voters are disappointed with the performance of NDA government under PM Modi’s leadership. The result has proved that it is not possible to fool the people forever by spreading lies through social media. Gujarat was ruled by Modi for decades- he and his cabinet colleagues held many rallies, despite BJP could not perform according to their expectations. People have started expressing their displeasure over Modi’s rule”.

Sources also reveal that banks are struggling with mountains of bad loans, which in turn has choked credit and hurt domestic investment. “India’s economy is grounded,” says one bank manager. Modi’s response has been criticized as piecemeal and clumsy. A controversial currency ban last November, politically sold as a crackdown on the illegal economy, ended up halting growth and causing a lot of misery. Goods and Services Tax was criticized for the way it was introduced. July’s introduction of a much-lauded countrywide Goods and Services Tax (GST) to help India move towards a common market has caused widespread business disruption because of what is seen as shoddy execution. And many businessmen are not happy, including those in Mangaluru- who had once raised their anger during a Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry seminar on GST.

In cities and towns, traders are upset over the grinding tax bureaucracy engendered by the GST. In villages – nearly half of Indians are engaged in agriculture – farmers are complaining of income insecurity as they believe the government isn’t paying them enough for their produce. Also, for the first time since winning power, Modi’s government is under attack. And Modi is taking flak from the opposition too for a change. His main political rival, Rahul Gandhi, of the once mighty Congress party, appears to be suddenly re-energised and has been taking on PM Modi more aggressively than ever before. Added to this, the son of Amit Shah, Modi’s closest aide, is accused of corruption.

Still, there’s “something in the air”- One indication is that even Modi’s fiercely pugnacious supporters are markedly subdued on social media these days. On the other hand, social media is awash with memes making fun of the prime minister. Modi’s politics are also causing discontent. By whipping up what many say is hysteria over the sale and consumption of beef and pandering to Hindu radicals, observers say his party has begun to frighten off many young people and urban folk. To make matters worse, his party appointed a controversial Hindu religious leader known for anti-Muslim rhetoric to run the political bellwether state of Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP won a decisive mandate in March. About a fifth of Uttar Pradesh’s 200 million people are Muslims.

As per a national daily, in 2014, Modi secured the overwhelming majority of the young votes. But his support from this quarter is waning? BJP-supported student unions have lost elections in three major universities in Delhi and Hyderabad. Last month’s unrest in a leading university in Modi’s constituency in Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, where police beat female university students protesting against an alleged sexual assault, will not endear him and his party to young voters. On the economy, Modi clearly seems to have overplayed his hand and questions are being asked about whether he can fulfill expectations.

Critics say despite running India’s most powerful government in recent history, he has achieved little in creating functioning markets for land and electricity and reforming labour laws. On his politics, they say, Modi appears to be hostage to the party’s ideological fountainhead, the right-wing Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteers’ Organization), known for what many say are visions of Hindu glory and achievement. However, Modi is a redoubtable fighter. It is too early to say the tide is turning against him decisively.

Among his supporters, Modi enjoys a reputation for being a hardworking and honest prime minister. “What has helped in stopping this wind of dissatisfaction from turning into a strong hurricane are two factors – the absence of a viable alternative, and the personal credibility of Modi,” say critics. “The only question that remains is: how long will PM Modi be able to hold down this wave of resentment with his own image and credibility?” And right now that answer is blowing in the wind. Unfortunately, India is in the throes of an economic slowdown and a jobs crisis under Modi’s leadership. Having said that, PM Modi has to work hard to keep his popularity grow and not come down.