Every time Donald Trump makes a policy decision, our opposition parties rush to blame Modi, hoping to score some quick political brownie points. But time and again, it backfires. What they think will hurt Modi ends up making them look foolish, and ironically, strengthens Modi’s position. The strange part is that there are plenty of real issues where the opposition can question or challenge Modi. But instead of picking those, they often go after things that look easy and would have worked in the previous generation, but ultimately give Modi an advantage.
The political game has changed. The ground rules, the field, the players, everything has evolved. But the opposition is still trying to play by the old playbook, the one their “baap-dada” used in a different era. That kind of strategy simply doesn’t work anymore. The people's aspirations have changed. Their ambitions are different, and their life philosophy has shifted. It’s more about money and the economy now, rather than morals or ethics. The question is not whether something is right or wrong; the real question is: what will work? India is at a stage where morals and ethics are fine, but first, “show me the money!”
If opposition political parties think they can raise one big issue at the center that will work everywhere, sorry, man! that’s just not going to work. Why not focus on localized issues? People do have problems, and there are plenty. But raising those issues requires many local leaders at the grassroots level. What people in Uttarakhand are facing is very different from what people in Delhi are dealing with. But fortunately or unfortunately, this kind of approach needs local leadership and not one supreme leader at the top. And that’s where the solution lies for the opposition.
The excessive centralization of power in Modi’s era has to be tackled with a very, very decentralized approach. It requires strong local leaders, and that’s one area where Modi hasn’t performed as well as people might have expected. This is where the opposition needs to step up and play on the front foot.
And let me make one thing absolutely clear, this doesn’t need to be done because Modi is bad or the opposition is particularly great, that's not really the point. Because Modi has performed quite well in many areas, but in a developing economy, one can always do better. In a democracy, whoever is in power must be shown the faults in their stars, if there are any.
And for this to happen, the opposition needs a leader who is truly secure, not just externally, but internally. Someone who isn’t afraid of the rise of other leaders. Someone who won’t sideline others just because they’re gaining popularity or public appreciation. Someone who can accept opposing viewpoints and coexist with a range of ideas. In short, a leader who is inclusive, compassionate, and secure, or let’s just say, an intelligent leader.
But does the opposition have anyone like that? That’s the question people need to ask and answer.