Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2023 Independence Day speech delivered from the Red Fort had a distinct political undertone, setting the stage for the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections. In his address, the PM outlined key issues that he believes are critical for India’s future growth and development. He underlined the urgent need to bolster “probity, transparency, and impartiality” to propel India toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. The PM identified corruption, nepotism, and appeasement as detrimental forces that have impeded the country’s progress.
Corruption emerged as a central concern in Modi’s speech, with him likening it to a termite that erodes the foundation of the nation. Nepotism within political parties also came under scrutiny as Modi condemned the preference for familial connections over merit and talent. The practice of appeasement, according to Modi, undermines social justice and weakens the fabric of the nation. He urged citizens to resist appeasement and its detrimental effects on societal aspirations.
The PM drew a connection between his previous electoral victories and the nation’s desire for change and progress, exuding confidence in securing a renewed mandate in 2024, based on his government’s performance and vision. As things stand, the PM’s party, the BJP, still looks favourite to win the next years’s all-important election. Modi remains the sole, overarching, pan-India leader who continues to retain his charisma and appeal. But recently, the BJP is facing a challenge from a combined opposition which sees a defeat in the next year’s polls as an existential threat. Over two dozen political parties have come together to form an alliance named “INDIA” with the aim of challenging the BJP. The alliance, forged to safeguard democracy and the Constitution, vows to uphold the core principles that define the nation as enshrined in the Constitution.
The “INDIA” represents a diverse array of regional and national parties, which have historically been rivals but have set aside their differences for a common cause: to address the pressing issues affecting the country and challenge the BJP’s nationalist platform. Led by Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the main opposition Congress party, the alliance stands for “Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance,” with its primary focus being on combating rising prices and unemployment that have plagued the nation, more so after the Russian invasion of Ukraine early last year.
But the PM Modi continues to rule the hearts of the majority of masses. As India goes into the election mode, the PM’s address sets the tone for a discourse that will likely shape the nation’s trajectory in the years to come. Here’s hoping that the discourse leading up to the election unites rather than polarizes the nation.
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