In a marriage, they call it the seven-year-itch when the romance sours and partners start looking for better prospects. You could say the same about Indian politics, and the relationship of prime ministers with their electorate after seven years. Indira Gandhi seemed invincible in 1971 after the Bangladesh War but, by the seventh year of her tenure, the oil shocks of 1973 and student agitations that year gave birth to the JP movement, which ultimately led to her defeat in 1977. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance seemed certain of re-election in 2004 in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s seventh year at the helm, but they underestimated the strength of the Opposition coalition and paid the price. After convincing re-election in 2009, Manmohan Singh and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance were cruising—till the corruption scandals in his seventh year as prime minister sealed the UPA’s fate in 2014.
Narendra Modi is in his seventh year as prime minister and all hell seems to have broken loose around him. A quad of daunting challenges confronts him: the continuing health threat posed by Covid-19, an economy devastated by the pandemic, Chinese aggression on the Line of Actual Control, and the prolonged agitation by farmers protesting against the recently enacted farm laws. So far, Modi has remained resolute in his intentions and appears calm even as his government is buffeted by raging storms. In 2021, he needs to successfully weather these challenges to be seen as a statesman. Or else, the year ahead may dim his and the BJP’s chances of winning the 2024 general election.
This story is from the January 18, 2021 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 18, 2021 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Check On Sale Of Insurance
Complaints about insurance mis-selling come up mostly when a claim is rejected or the policyholder doesn't get what he thinks he bought the policy for
How To Make Better Financial Decisions
Let logic, not emotion, dictate your wealth choices. Understand your emotions first, then temper them with facts, and you will arrive at better financial decisions
WHEN DO YOU GET AN INCOME TAX REFUND?
An assessee becomes entitled to an income tax refund when the tax they have paid exceeds what they are liable to pay in a financial year
STANDING UP AND TRANSFORMING LIVES
THE LAUNCH EVENT OF THE MAHINDRA RISE INITIATIVE, ORGANISED BY THE INDIA TODAY GROUP AND MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA, HONOURED WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS WHO ARE LEADING THE CHARGE FOR A BETTER INDIA
THE SENSE OF ARRIVAL
Samantha Ruth Prabhu's journey in the film industry has been about finding success by overcoming fear
IN THE SAFE ZONE
AUTOMOTIVE COMPANIES ARE INCREASINGLY FOCUSSED ON BETTER AND MORE ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES IN THEIR CARS. HEIGHTENED CUSTOMER AWARENESS HAS GIVEN THIS AN ADDED IMPETUS
TWIN STRIKE
WE GET A LEG OVER APRILIA'S MADE-IN-INDIA RS 457 AT THE GRUELLING KARI MOTOR SPEEDWAY
INDIAN SAFETY RATINGS FOR CARS
THE BHARAT NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM RATES THEM FOR BOTH ADULT AND CHILD OCCUPANT PROTECTION
THE MEDIUM, NOT THE MESSAGE
We live in an age where there is an economy built on distraction and a complete corruption of attention.
HAIL TO THE KING - THE HYUNDAI CRETA GETS MAJOR UPDATES, LOOKS SET TO CONTINUE AS SEGMENT LEADER
Just under four years after the arrival of the second generation Creta, Hyundai has given its bestseller a major overhaul with a significant redesign of the exterior and interior, more features, enhanced safety and a new turbo petrol powertrain.