Having a strong leader does not mean ours is an authoritarian leadership, nor does it mean that the values of democracy are not being upheld (“States of the Opposition”, Sept. 21). The Congress too had a strong leader in Indira Gandhi. She is still remembered and revered, and her leadership is considered to be one of the best save the Emergency period. A country of 1.3 billion has spent way too much time being led by one party that was focussed on vote-bank politics rather than bringing together various communities. So people now want to be led by someone who takes the burden of the entire nation on his shoulders and works towards India’s progress.
Vrinda Rajvanshi,
New Delhi
There is no point in Opposition parties taking on PM Narendra Modi personally. The BJP is deliberately prompting this type of public discourse, having seen this as a largely successful formula since 2014. Rahul Gandhi fell into this trap long back. He must come out of it immediately. Mamata Banerjee too must avoid this trap. These parties must change the discourse to the government’s track record on the economy, society, institutions, etc. One-liners will not work. The counterarguments must be detailed, informative and data-based.
On demonetisation, for example, there is enough data and information to show that it has crippled the economy. It has inflicted severe costs on the nation, several folds larger than those ascribed to the United Progressive Alliance baggage. No party has done this so far in a systematic and sustained manner.
If the BJP could sway the electorate in State elections by projecting Mr. Modi and his government, there is no reason why strong regional parties and leaders cannot turn the focus of a central election to State issues and in their favour.
M. Balakrishnan,
Bengaluru