(By Manasi Agarwal)

Narendra Modi was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India on 26 May 2014 with 282 seats in the Lok Sabha, winning a majority of seats on its own since 1984.

He assumed the office of the Prime Minister for the second consecutive term after the 2019 general election with 303 MPs and assumed office on 30 May 2019. He has now completed 7-years in office as the Prime Minister last month. He is the 4th Prime Minister of India after Nehru, Indira, and Manmohan Singh to continue in office for 7 consecutive years.

The first five years of his rule witnessed many domestic and international initiatives. While he was successful in building a strong image of the country globally including the Muslim countries, some good initiatives on the domestic front such as‘Swachch Bharat’, ‘UjjwalaYojana’ for providing free LPG distribution to women below the poverty line, ‘Jan-DhanYojana’, a financial inclusion program open to all Indian citizens including minors and older aimed to expand affordable access to financial services such as bank accounts, remittances, credit, insurance, and pensions,

‘Pradhan MantriJeevanJyotiBimaYojana’ available to people between 18 and 50 years, for payment to the nominee of 2 lakh in case of death of the insured due to any cause,‘Ayushman Bharat’, an insurance cover up to 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization available to deprived rural families and occupational categories of urban workers’ families, ‘Abolition of Triple Talaq’, ‘Surgical Strike’.

However, some of the decisions of his government did not go well with the people viz. Demonetization, GST, CAA, Abrogation of Article 370, Dissolution of Planning Commission. With his return in 2019 with more seats in the Lok Sabha than in 2014, it was expected that the people would now actually see the ‘achchey din’ but the exact opposite is happening. The economy faltered to its lowest, youth unemployment is on the rise, dearness is all-time high, consumer goods and kitchen essentials are becoming unaffordable for the common man. The people are also critical of the installation of the world’s tallest statue of SardarVallabhbhai Patel at Kevadia, Gujarat, and Central Vista Project.

The first and second phases of the Covid-19 pandemic and its management exposed the health care systems in the country. While the first phase witnessed miseries and agonies of migrant workers all over the country, the second phase is witnessing failure in its management. There is chaos everywhere. People are crying for oxygen, ICU beds and vaccines are in short supply. Government guidelines are unspecific. The number of patients infected and cured and a number of Corona virus-induced death data is misleading. The government is under regular attack for hiding the actual data.

The disaster management and policies during the pandemics resulted in more than 1 crore jobless, family income of 97% homes reduced, negative growth in the GDP (-7.3%). The earlier maximum negative growth was forty years before in 1979-80 when it was -5.2%. The fiscal deficit is 9.3% of the GDP. India has slipped below Bangladesh in terms of per capita income in the current financial year.

Narendra Modi’s disapproval rating rose to the highest level to 29 % from 20%, according to Morning Consult, the US data company. His popularity rating is also falling. It was 74 %at the end of March and stood to 65% on May 4. The relations with neighboring countries are also not as cordial as they used to be during his first term. The culmination of the deteriorating image of the BJP under Narendra Modi compelled the RSS to discuss the issues last Sunday in New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, and J P Nadda were present in the meeting.

Meanwhile in Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) displayed posters in Patna mocking the 7-years rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The RJD targeted NarendraModifor for not fulfilling his promises of providing employment to 2 crore youths and eradicating unemployment, bringing back the black money, unreasonable implementation of GST, and demonetization. The posters have questioned the central government for its failure of timely supply of Covid-19 vaccines and deaths due to it.

The RJD further alleged that the government has disinvested Rail, BHEL, GAIL, BSNL, LIC to the capitalists. The essential commodities like mustard oil are being sold at 200 per kg while petrol and diesel are priced above 100 and 90 respectively. The farmers’ agitation over three Farm Acts, West Bengal Assembly elections, and Pegasus controversies are some of the issues, which dented his image. But his charisma is still intact amongst the people of India and he has another 3-years’ time on his side, he should act fast in the right direction to restore the love and prestige for himself and the country and bring the “AchcheyDin” as was promised to the people.