Exit Polls 2019: 5 strong takeaways on the BJP and PM Modi from the results
The voters had the tempting option of lapping up Rahul Gandhi’s NYAY. They, however, gave it a thumbs down. Why?
The election results will be the best manifestation of a transformed thought process that is visible in the country.
The exit polls are out — some predict a thumping win for the BJP, others predict a simple win. But what looks more certain than ever before is that even in the worst case scenario, the BJP, along with its allies, will be able to form the government fairly comfortably.
As we wait for May 23, let me dwell upon some remarkable takeaways from these elections.
First and foremost, these elections truly mark a coming of age for the Indian voter. The voters had the tempting option of lapping up Rahul Gandhi’s NYAY. They instead preferred the social transformation which has been provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through toilet construction, rural electrification, rural roads construction, distributing cooking gas cylinders and laying fibre optic networks. Never perhaps has the Indian voter felt so empowered to outright reject the lavish freebies offered to him/her.
This, in itself, is the most authentic manifestation of the social change PM Modi has managed to bring about in the last five years.
Second, this social change manifests itself equally in people overcoming their age-old electoral caste prejudices. In fact, the 2014 polls had given birth to a new voter chunk — a consolidated bank of pro-development, pro-nationalist votes, which cut across caste and creed.
This time, in the wake of a more united opposition, some feared that people might go back to their caste prejudices — but thankfully, the pro-development, pro-nationalist vote bank looks more consolidated than before. This, in effect, reflects a high level of satisfaction with the country’s leadership in the last five years.
Third, it seems the average Indian voter is more intelligent than the combined opposition leadership in the country. So, s/he might vote differently in a state election — but when it comes to national elections, s/he has a robust understanding of national priorities and will vote for a decisive and strong leader.
The average Indian voter has also evolved enough to call out political lies. So every time Rahul Gandhi raised the slogan, “Chowkidar chor hai”, the voter seemed to be demanding more logic and sense from him, before making such wild allegations.
Four, Lutyens’ Delhi does not understand the real India.
We’ve so often heard eminent armchair intellectuals say — national security and India’s global standing hold no importance for the poor.
Fact is — they do! Modi’s campaign was largely centered around strong leadership and its ability to take head on terrorism and other national security challenges. It drew very good traction, which naysayers had not anticipated.
Finally, the trust which Indian voters have in Narendra Modi has not diminished one bit. Rather, it has only increased. So be it demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or whatever, yes, people might have their grouses — but they trust the government’s intention. They trust the government’s will.
And this trust should enable Modi to do many more things in the next five years which no other Indian government has done before.