Tag: Narendra Modi

Urban Infrastructure- Its about Politics Stupid!

Indian Cities are expanding, by leaps and bounds. The National Capital Region and The Greater Mumbai Region are urban agglomerations which are power centers of our economy. Every second tier Indian City is growing to accommodate the aspirations of the Indian with access to Google and hence the window to the world on their Nokia Asha’s and Micromax’s. Folks from the lower socioeconomic strata take selfie’s on their Chinese made Xylo phones in the Delhi Metro. The Smart Phone is a symbolic totem of an aspiring India and a powerful force multiplier. The Naya Raipurs and Greater Raigad’s are the future of urbanization in the country. The ten odd nodes of the Multi-Billion Dollar Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DIMC) driven new smart cities off a fresh template mirroring the Pudong-Pearl River Delta model of the early 1980’s made China the factory of the world. The DIMC Development Corporation is led by Amitabh Kant, a dynamo of a civil servant which shatters the stereotype of a sarakari babu. Aggressive Visionary Leaders make a world of a difference. Narendra Modi has put the Dholera node of DIMC in Gujarat near Amdavad on steroids with the work progressing on a firm footing.

A BJP led administration from May 2014 would be an enabler for creating urban infrastructure as its voter base is the urban middle class, while in contrast the Congress was welfare scheme oriented as its target consumer oops voter was different.  The Urban Voter is being taken seriously finally with Modi and Kejriwal vying for their vote.  Kejriwal and the Aam Admi Party have been paradigm shifters for bringing the focus back on the urban voter. Prof. Yogendra Yadav from Gurgaon and an Ashutosh from Chandani Chowk would be a welcome add to  debates in the Lok Sabha. The Candidature of IT Visionary Nandan Nilekani from Bengaluru South is a sign that Indian Politics is finally accepting the urban professional.

The Urban voterscape is a myriad canvas of actors.   Gurgaon is about a Chakkarpur and Cyber City equally. The Aam Admi Party has a strong appeal for the urban poor in the National Capital Region and Kejriwal’s antics have delivered them the message that we can have a voice in the Vidhan Sabha too.  Urban Governance is ultimately about equitable access to public services. The Quality of Life has to improve. The Urban ecosystem is complex with multiple stakeholders with different stakes in the game.  Urban India can win only if they vote in the forthcoming polls.

Press the Button, gently.

Why Brand Modi needs to be Team Modi in order to win?

Narendra Bhai Modi has already started his campaign towards 7, RCR. He has lead Gujarat with a confidence rarely seen on the Indian political canvas. Excellent Orator, a macho image and a development czar almost in the mold of the initial years of Lee Kuan Yew, all make him a hit ticket entity for the urban youth. The recent fracas with the Wharton School withdrawing an invite, has transformed him into a sociological totem of nationalist prestige. Whenever we watch Narendra Modi, we feel the strong leadership we have missed with our current technocratic Prime Minister. He seems connected with the pulse of the nation, unlike a NGO leadership style-esque of Team Rahul. May be the National Advisory Council bug seems to have inflicted the mainstream congress too. ‘Five Star Activists’ do not win elections. Kejriwal is understanding the difference only too well.

But unfortunately for Modi Bhai, India is a parliamentary democracy unlike the United States where he is denied a visa. APCO Worldwide PR Strategy is effective but he needs more regional leaders and grassroots Sangh Parivar cadre to spread the word in Rural India. Modi needs to be a consensus man, get more allies on board apart from the Akalis and the Sena twins. Selvi Jaya Madam is sitting on the fence, characteristic of the national game plan of Dravidian parties. Nitish is blowing his own developmental trumpet with a trip to Pakistan to spruce up his minority credentials. Indian Politics is all about tokenism. That is the problem with it.

Modi needs a Shivraj Singh Chauhan and a Manohar Parrikar in his team to win comprehensively. A Rahul has a Diggi Raja and Jairam with a ‘PC’ as his henchmen. A leader from the South would help Modi.

Electoral Politics in Coalition Politics is a team sport. It is time that a ‘Team Modi’ complements the brand. Even Atal ji had a LK Advani and Jawant Singh to supplement his leadership. History holds important pointers. 

Brand NaMo: A Metaphor for Development Authoritarianism

Narendra Modi is a good student of political science as he gauges social architecture both soft and hard to rule Gujarat. He has built a brand very attractive to the urbane middle class. Well, about 80% of the urban seats in the recent third term win is a testament to the same. This article is certainly not a summary of recent reads available in the conventional media and being such as polarizing figure in the Indian Political Landscape, he is very well researched by writers.  This post touches upon the governance model and its political symbolism as a flagpost for democracy in this country.

I am not a Modi Fan, quite was quite anti his genre of politics actually as i am for a plural, secular and inclusive idea of India. A man who presided during the 2002 riots and supposedly did not discharge his Raj Dharma, is not a man who is to be a leading opposition party’s candidate for Prime Minister. He has been an international recluse with the Americans refusing him a visa. Although the Brits being born businessmen as Gujaratis have warmed up to him.

The research question that pops up in my psyche is : What makes NaMo such a hit with the urbane middle class inspite of all the negative rhetoric blemishing his resume?

Firstly, He is Macho. Aggressive, Powerful Orator with a persona of being a man of action helps when contrasting him with Dr. Singh and Rahul ji.  He is Tech Savvy; uses Twitter, has a laptop and connects well with the aspirations of the right side of the populace representing the demographic dividend. He connects well with the Industry and realises that development only can create jobs. The Vibrant Gujarat Summit and its success speaks  volumes as an advertorial for the State. He has brought in Technocrats to oversee projects in his administration. Although seven of his ministers lost in this election, Brand Modi remains popular as ever. A Development oriented Politician with a mass base. A rare sight in our public discourse where caste and creed define electoral fortunes. And in this election, the Sangh supported the opposition and he still won with an overwhelming mandate.

His government still has to improve human development indicators in the socially conservative state. Modi reminds me of the South Korean Military Leader, the father of the current president who drove Korea to prosperity or an Pinochet who ruled with an iron fist while his nation did economically very well. A Singapore with a Lee Kuan Yew ran a single party democracy while shepherding his country from ‘Third World to The First’. Deng Xiopeng was a Communist Ruler who advocated economic liberalization.

Developmental transition comes with a political/social cost. The minorities in Gujarat are paying for that in a way with their space reducing every day. In Singapore, communities were moved from Kampungs or villages to shoe box apartments in State built housing estates. Their old way of life was lost forever. Singapore has done an amazing job. I salute LKY and the PAP leadership on their meritocratic governance.

Modi’s win is a watershed in a way that people will tolerate particular variety of authoritarianism if the job is delivered. The Late Shiv Sena Chief Balasaheb called it the ‘ThokShahi’ or Dictatorship as a form of rule needed in India. No wonder he was a fan of Hitler.

The politics of development is gaining currency. India needs it badly. Secular or not.