2018: The Unfolding Agenda

India must be mindful that while the India-US strategic partnership auguers well, a nation’s strength rests on a growing economy, robust foreign policy and good governance

- Minhaz Merchant

THE NEXT TWELVE months will be the most decisive in India’s recent political history. A slew of eight state assembly elections will set the tone for the 2019 Lok Sabha poll. Clearly, the BJP-led NDA government will have to move into overdrive in the final lap of its five-year term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention will again be divided between campaigning and governing. The first big-state poll, Karnataka, in April 2018 will be followed in December 2018 by three other key assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In between are elections in four northeastern states — Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland. Party president Amit Shah has already begun strategising for these as well as the 2019 Lok Sabha poll.

For the Prime Minister, constant campaigning takes a toll. Though he is extraordinarily fit, Modi needs to build a strong second line of leadership. His Cabinet has some outstanding performers but also several laggards who have been given portfolios for political and coalition reasons. The demand to hold simultaneous parliamentary and assembly elections arises as a result of the packed electoral calendar. This year is a prime example. Barely weeks after a gruelling campaign in Gujarat, Modi and many key ministers will have to return to campaign mode: Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura hold elections in February-March 2018, followed shortly by Karnataka.

Campaigning