By – Jawahar Mishra
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has advised opposition parties that constantly disagreeing with Prime Minister Modi’s actions and portraying him as a ‘villain’ before the country will yield no benefit. He clarified that if Congress and other opposition parties wish to return to power, they must appreciate the welfare work done by Modi between 2014 and 2019.
The people of the country had realized these works, resulting in nearly 30 percent of voters helping Modi form the government again. Notably, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP received 37.4% and the ruling NDA alliance received about 45% of the votes.
Jairam Ramesh emphasized that Modi uses a style of language that helps in connecting with the common people. Until we accept that the public appreciates his work, we cannot give him a proper fight. Mr. Ramesh also clarified that he is not saying this just to praise Modi, but he wants people in the political circles to accept that the Modi administration has taken some new initiatives that no one had done before.
In this context, citing the example of the Modi government’s ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ (PMUY), he said how Narendra Modi successfully implemented it across the country, whereas we all were mocking this scheme.
He further said that we have to understand how a person who was an ordinary leader during the 2009 general elections has become the Prime Minister of the country today. Since then, whenever he has contested an election, he has emerged victorious. Overall, Jairam Ramesh’s point is that opposition leaders should stop unnecessary criticism of Modi and learn from his successful strategy; because this is the only best way to return to power.
This statement by Jairam Ramesh signals a major shift in Indian politics. Especially, such an admission from the mouth of a senior Congress leader is raising many questions about the opposition’s strategy.
A strong analysis of this is provided below:
1. Failure of Negative Politics
Jairam Ramesh has made it clear that public opinion cannot be gained by merely ‘opposing for the sake of opposition.’ By criticizing Prime Minister Modi personally or portraying him as a ‘villain,’ the opposition parties are moving away from the public. This indicates that Indian voters now prioritize ‘performance’ over ‘negative politics.’
2. Impact of Governance Style and Welfare Schemes
Accepting the success of projects like the Ujjwala Yojana is a realistic step. Opposition parties often ridicule government schemes, but at the grassroots level, those schemes bring changes to people’s lives. According to Ramesh, as long as the opposition does not acknowledge this success, they cannot show an alternative model to the people.
3. Power of Communication and Language Style
Prime Minister Modi’s style of connecting directly with the common masses is a great asset for the BJP. Compared to the intellectual language of the opposition, Modi’s simple and effective language attracts people more. It appears from Jairam Ramesh’s comments that the opposition also needs to reform through their choice of words and communication mediums.
4. New Roadmap to Return to Power
The analysis also reveals that if Congress or other parties want to return to power, they will have to strengthen their own agenda instead of criticizing Modi. By acknowledging Modi’s successful programs, they have to demonstrate what can be done better than that.
Conclusion:
This self-introspection by Jairam Ramesh is like a ‘wake-up call’ for the opposition camp. It shows that Modi’s influence in Indian politics is not limited to votes alone, but his working style is forcing the opposition to change their strategy as well.
Bullet Points
1. “Modi” Chanting in Congress: Main Attraction
End of Negative Politics: Jairam Ramesh has clarified that portraying Prime Minister Modi only as a ‘villain’ will not benefit the opposition.
2. Acknowledging Performance: It is impossible to return to power without praising the welfare work done between 2014 and 2019.
Success of Ujjwala Yojana: It is a big lesson how the scheme, which the opposition was mocking, has changed people’s lives at the grassroots level.
3. Communication Style: It is essential for the opposition to understand Modi’s language and the art of connecting directly with the common people.
Trust of 30 Percent Voters: A large section of the country’s voters likes Modi’s work, which cannot be ignored.
4. Time for Self-Introspection: Not just criticism, but presenting a strong alternative model of one’s own is the only way to victory.
