Opinion: Big Moves That Show INDIA May Be Onto Something

Two major initiatives by the Modi government are indicative of the fact that the INDIA meet in Mumbai has rattled BJP. On the first day of the conclave came news, out-of-the-blue, of a special session of parliament on September 18, no reason given.

On the second day, a second big announcement – a panel, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to weigh the feasibility of the One Nation, One Election concept. This gave birth to unnecessary speculation that the parliamentary elections could be synchronised with the assembly elections due in November-December 2023. Obviously, the news space which INDIA would have hogged in the absence of these two developments was conceded and the debate swirled around how good or bad is the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election.’

I am of the firm opinion that these two steps taken by the Modi government were an exercise in headline management. It was also no coincidence that a day before the meeting, LPG cylinder prices were slashed by ₹ 200. This shows that the BJP is well aware that the coming together of 28 political parties might impact the 2024 parliamentary elections and that to preempt any damage, people’s attention should be diverted by a mega-narrative.