The return of BJP

It is the first time in thirty years that a political party has won an absolute majority in an election in India, giving the BJP the power to rule on its own. In conducting free and fair elections with an electorate of about 800 million people over six weeks, India once again lived up to […]

It is the first time in thirty years that a political party has won an absolute majority in an election in India, giving the BJP the power to rule on its own.
In conducting free and fair elections with an electorate of about 800 million people over six weeks, India once again lived up to its billing as the world’s largest democracy; it is also a remarkably stable one. The Indian Electoral Commission should serve as an inspiration to others around the world, such as Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, which is preparation for what many consider to be watershed polls in 2015.
Despite its electoral woe, the CP is credited with masterminding India’s phenomenal economic growth, averaging 9 per cent in the decade between 2000 and 2010, and lifting millions out of poverty. As minister of finance in the 1990s, it was outgoing Prime Minister Singh who liberalized and deregulated the Indian economy, dispensing with the ‘’License Raj,’’ the array of permits and stifling restrictions required to do business in the country in place since independence.  In recent years, the Indian economy has been faltering, characterized by slow growth compounded by corruption scandals.
From the outside, Modi’s politics is viewed as being divisive and polarising, a mixture of populism and xenophobia. On the campaign trail, he successfully played down his perceived image as a dyed in the wool Hindu nationalist.
As chief minister of Gujarat State, it was under Modi’s watch that riots between the majority Hindu population and the minority Muslim citizens broke out in 2002 following the bombing of a train said to be carrying mostly Hindus. The attacks were blamed Muslims, thousands of whom were killed in reprisals. Many still consider Modi complicit in the killings of Muslims although subsequent inquiries, and a Supreme Court ruling, have absolved him of culpability. The United States denied him a visa in 2005 because of the riots in Gujarat.
There are speculations that Modi is likely to pursue a more assertive foreign policy that may further strain relations with neighbours, especially with Pakistan over the long running territorial dispute in Kashmir. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was among early callers to Modi to congratulate him on his victory and has invited him to visit Islamabad.  US President Barack Obama also called Modi, and offered him a visa to the US.  There are regional economic plans, like the gas pipeline line from Iran that would connect to Pakistan and India, but stymied by Washington, which Modi may want to review.
Modi’s economic track record in Gujarat endeared him to big business, many of which backed his campaign. His pro-business economic policies, predicated on development and good governance, were considered successful because Gujarat recorded impressive economic strides. Modi has promised to put India back on the fast economic track.  
In recent years, there has been a great increase in the gap between the rich and poor. Indians would expect the new prime minister to deliver on his promises of rapid economic growth and tackling poverty and corruption.
 As a developing nation, much like Nigeria, India is a country of stark contrasts. It is highly technically developed; a nuclear armed nation that has sent manned space missions. Yet it is home to a vast population of urban and rural poor. India is an important trading partner of Nigeria’s. As members of the Commonwealth, both see eye to eye on many global issues.  Such relationships should be maintained. Modi may have won big in the polls; that may be the easy part. The hard part will be delivering on the promises he made to those who handed him that convincing victory.