Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded to critics who say he is always in "election mode," asserting that genuine emotional commitment to public welfare is the key to winning elections. Modi made these remarks on Monday, following the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) recent victory in the Bihar state elections.
The BJP-led alliance secured a sweeping victory in Bihar, capturing 202 out of 243 seats in the legislative assembly. This outcome is particularly significant because the BJP has historically struggled to gain a strong foothold in the state. The Congress party and its allies saw their share of seats decline substantially, falling from 110 to 35. This victory in Bihar is a crucial test for Modi as he seeks to build momentum ahead of key state polls in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam over the next two years, and national elections in 2029.
Modi countered the "always in election mode" critique by stating that winning elections requires being in "emotional mode" around the clock. He emphasized that governance driven by emotion and commitment leads to positive results, as demonstrated in the Bihar elections. He said some people — including his supporters in the media — repeatedly claim that BJP and Modi operate in a '24×7 election mode'. Countering this narrative, the Prime Minister said winning elections isn't about being in election mode all the time, but about being in an “emotional mode” connected to the people.
Analysts suggest that the Bihar win strengthens the BJP government at the center. The BJP, along with its regional ally, Janata Dal United, and other parties in the alliance, secured a comfortable majority in the state legislature. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, followed by Janata Dal United with 85. The victory is seen as a sign of the BJP's resilience and ability to adapt to local conditions, even after losing its parliamentary majority in last year's national elections.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of development and healthy competition among states. He encouraged state governments, regardless of their political affiliation, to prioritize development and attract investments. Modi highlighted that a strong democracy relies on public participation and the level of confidence and optimism people have in the democratic process, which is most evident during elections.
Modi highlighted that India is impatient to become developed and self-reliant. He noted that the first twenty-five years of the 21st century have brought numerous challenges, but none have been able to stop India's progress.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor praised Modi's recent lecture, noting that it combined economic themes with a cultural message and urged the nation towards progress. Tharoor found the Prime Minister's emphasis on a post-colonial mindset and restoring pride in India's heritage particularly impactful and was pleased to attend the event. He added that PM Modi addressed criticism of being constantly in “election mode”, saying he was instead in “emotional mode” to address people's problems.
The Bihar election results are likely to embolden the BJP for upcoming state polls, and the outcome marks a significant turnaround in the party's fortunes since it lost an outright majority in parliamentary elections last year.
