Modi Makes A Strong Comeback

In the past six months, the PM has learnt from his missteps and revved up governance. This has helped him reverse the decline in his rating and emerge unchallenged again

- Raj Chengappa

If there were an Olympic competition akin to being the prime minister of India, it would be the decathlon. The event that determines the world’s best all-round athlete is a test of power, agility, speed and endurance. Held over two days, it consists of 10 track and field disciplines that include the 100 metre sprint, long jump, shot put, high jump and the 400 metre sprint on the first day, followed by 110 metre hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin and a 1,500 metre run on the second day. Points are given for each event, and the competitor with the highest aggregate score wins.

Into the midlife of his first term as prime minister of the world’s largest democracy, Narendra Modi has to demonstrate tremendous all-round skills, as in the decathlon, to master what is arguably the most difficult job in the world. Like a sprinter, Modi must speedily win public approval for the rash of programmes he has announced, leaping over many hurdles. He must show the endurance of a distance runner, which he did while winning over political support for the much-delayed Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill. He also has to display power and agility needed for field events to deal with the many challenges he faces, be it cross-border terrorism, economic instability, social distress or religious disharmony.