AS the General Elections 2024 near finishing line, Prime Minister Narendra Modi towers well above all. A few days before the vote-count takes place on Tuesday, June 4, India and the world await his stormy return to power for the third term in a row.
While pollsters and surveys are unanimous in foreseeing a decisive mandate for the BJP-led NDA under his stewardship, PM Modi has also expressed confidence in his glorious comeback at the helm of the country’s affairs. He reiterated this in his two recent interviews with prominent media platforms.
In fact, well ahead of the elections, he had promised “bigger decisions” and told his trusted aides to prepare an action plan for the first 100 days of the new NDA Government in power. During his hectic campaign schedule, he has been fine-tuning his future plans to hit the ground running immediately after the electoral process is over.
During his two terms, PM Modi has transformed India from the world’s ‘fragile five’ economies to the fastest-growing economy in the world. With the roadmap of the third term ready, he has guaranteed to make the country the third-largest economy and
lay the foundation stone for Viksit Bharat 2047. In his wide-ranging interview with NDTV, PM Modi predicted a “historic” win for the Bharatiya Janata Party and made special mention of his expectation from the southern states. He said in the battle for the southern states, he is confident his party will be the big winner, because the BJP has “made a place… in the minds of the ordinary people.”
To a question on the INDI Alliance, PM Modi said, “The scales are heavily tilted in our favour. I don’t have to say anything about that. We have the upper hand. And everyone knows it.” Going further, he said, “We have a track record of ten years of strong Government. Be it our work against terrorism, be it on security, be it on development issues, be it on foreign policy or be our initiative in times of crisis, I think the people of the country see all these things. And hence the common man of the country has made up his mind.”
Talking about the economic reforms undertaken by his Government during the past 10 years, the Prime Minister indicated that the financial markets will set new records after June 4, the day the Election Commission counts the votes. “We have done the maximum economic reforms, and encouraged pro-entrepreneurship policies,” he said.
He agreed that many young people are becoming investors, which will benefit the markets. “I believe citizens should have some risk-taking capacity as they become more experienced investors,” PM Modi said. He cited the examples of shares of several public sector undertakings that have risen in recent times. Hindustan Aeronautics, or HAL, for example, is on a “stellar run” as its stock reached a record high on massive profits, PM Modi said. “Imagine they (Opposition) tried to create fear among workers, but look how well HAL is doing,” the Prime Minister said.
Brand Modi’
Outcome of people’s trust: PM
Describing himself as a doer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told news agency PTI in an interview that the perception of ‘Brand Modi’ is the outcome of the trust of the people he has gained in his over two decades of public life. He said ‘Brand Modi’ worked because there was no conscious effort in building this brand. People have seen the genuine efforts and tireless hard work that he has put in to improve their lives, he added.
