Will he, will he not? No, he won’t change!

The nation will not forget the fact the Modi government over the past decade has not only ridiculed the opposition but bulldozed its way through by throwing 140 MPs out of Parliament and getting several key bills by a voice vote. Even the controversial farm bills were passed without much discussion and consultation with the opposition. Team Modi had never shown any respect for the opposition

“India’s poorest crush Modi’s hopes of landslide,” screamed amassive headline across two pages in London-based newspaper, while another foreign newspaper said “Indian voter delivers shock to Modi”. Another foreign newspaper reported, “Suddenly, the aura of invincibility around Narendra Modi has been shattered.”

One would have expected PM Modi to be a bit subdued in his public appearance and many analysts thought that they will see a changed person on Modi 3.0 because the Lok Sabha 2024 election results had a message of defeat for BJP in the success of the NDA.

Modi, during the post result party meeting, suddenly began speaking about the coalition era and claiming that the NDA is not today’s baby and that it’s the fruit of the seeds sowed during the Vajpayee era. He didn’t say a word about the BJP missing the halfway mark by miles. There was no sense of humility visible anywhere.

The only difference, as compared to the celebrations of the BJP’s success in the last legislative Assembly elections, was that the cries of Modi, Modi and Jai Sri Ram were missing this time. Even Modi himself hasn’t done his own customarychant - Jai Sri Ram. Instead, he began his speech by saying Jai Jagannath, apparently thanking the Puri deity for the party’s victory in Odisha. Critics wondered if Modi has forgotten Lod Ram on whom he and his party had relied heavily during the fiercest poll campaign in 2024.

It is not abnormal in Indian politicians thatthey choose friends and foes as it suits their needs. But in the case of the Paramatma-sent, non-biological entity, he forgets even Lord Sri Ram on whom he depended, only till about a week ago!

Well, these are a couple of changes that one could see in Modi after he missed the 370 or Chaar-Sau-Paar target. Has he buckled under the coalition pressure? He does not use his much tom-tommed Modi Guarantee which is replaced by NDA governance.

Sample his statements at the NDA meeting. “NDA has become synonymous with good governance in the past 10 years, and we have worked to make the country touch new heights of success. This is the most successful alliance in India's history and our aim will be to reach unanimity in all our decisions." Wah!

Then he referred to INDIA bloc and said, “I strongly feel people of the INDI bloc belong to the previous century when they question tech advancements like EVMs and Aadhaar.”

Now this statement of his is slightly difficult to digest: “I have been missing Parliamentary debates and I hope Opposition MPs will also contribute to nation-building when they come to Parliament. We will write a new chapter of development and good governance and together will make the dream of a developed India come true."

The nation will not forget the fact the Modi government over the past decade has not only ridiculed the opposition but bulldozed its way through by throwing 140 MPs out of Parliament and getting several key bills by a voice vote. Even the controversial farm bills were passed without much discussion and consultation with the opposition. Team Modi had never shown any respect for the opposition. (Read: Respect your rival, learn it from the Army & sportsmen. BizzBuzz. 30 Aug 2023)

Modi declared that NDA is not a collection of some parties for the sake of power as it stood on the shoulders of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Parkash Singh Badal, Balasaheb Thackeray, George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav who “sowed this seed…that has become a tree.” So far so good as he remembered the forgotten heroes of the alliance.

Then he went on to taunt the Congress. “Even after 10 years,” he said, “the Congress has not been able to touch 100.” The BJP got more seats than what the grand old party secured in the past three elections.

He conveniently ignored the fact that the Congress has improved its tally. Moreover, INDIA bloc gave Modi Guarantee a tough fight. Had the opposition got its act together slightly earlier and not gone back and forth on seat sharing, it would have been difficult for Modi 3.0 to be a reality.

But the media in general would praise Modi’s political acumen, strategy and experience as a team leader, without impartially X-raying his record. Media also highlighted Modi’s jumbo cabinet with experienced CMs, Ministers with performance record and the way struck “fine balance” with SC, ST and OBC combination.

All along, independent analysts have observed that Modi does not believe in teamwork, nor does he like to be answerable for anything. The fact he did not address a single Press Conference over the past decade, and the manner in which the BJP election manifesto was packed with I-me-myself-and-Modi and his (not BJP’s or NDA’s) are ample proof of this.

While criticising the Congress, Modi sought to send signals of cooperative federalism and working with the opposition and all the States. Will this ever happen? Will he drop his double-engine doctrine now that his single engine has derailed but managed to return to the track with the help of the cranes called Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar?

It will be interesting to see as to what Babu and Nitish will bargain for. A Special Status for their respective States is already on cards. Will they settle down for some extraordinary packages? Since the Modi government had already said no to special status taking shelter under the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations.

The then Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had told the Lok Sabha in March 2021 that the issue of granting Special Status did not arise as AP had been given packages. Babu, on the contrary, had been protesting against the lack of fund flow from the Centre to the State.

TDP and JDU have also sounded their interest in the Lok Sabha speaker’s post who is seen as the key to conducting the proceedings impartially. The opposition in the previous House has complained against muzzling the voice of dissent and suspending the non-BJP members. Rahul Gandhi even alleged that his microphone was muted and some of his remarks were deleted from the House’s record which the BJP denied.

Even the INDIA bloc is looking forward to an impartial Lok Sabha Speaker. It is in this context that Modi’s statement that he looks forward to the opposition participation to make debates meaningful sounds interesting (even if it is meant for temporary public consumption).

In the changed occupancy of the 14th Lok Sabha, It may not be all that easy for the BJP to continue to bulldoze and shout down the opposition. If the BJP does not mend its ways, it will give an easy handle for the opposition in the upcoming elections to Maharashtra and Haryana legislative assemblies. The BJP suffered very badly in these States during the recent Lok Sabha poll and Modi’s political acumen will be put to test once again.

Whoever is the Speaker, our advice to Rahul Gandhi and INDIA block is to avoid walkouts and keep making their points felt strongly in the House.

The role of the opposition in the House is extremely important since the proceedings are recorded and telecast live for the rest of the nation to watch. Hence, the precious little time that they get had to be utilised extremely well. Because Modi will not change.

(The columnist is a Mumbai-based author and independent media veteran, running websites and a youtube channel known for his thought-provoking messaging.)