Due to the fear of losing the elections, provocative statements were also seen from leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, who during a press conference had said 'do or die' regarding the Lok Sabha election results.
However, it all ended on Tuesday when the NDA finally defeated the India Bloc and is now set to form the next government.
The slogan of 'crossing 400' is over as NDA is nearing 300. Many factors like low turnout, Muslim solidarity, infighting, selection of candidates etc. have thwarted BJP's dream of 'crossing 400'. Besides, many reports also highlighted the issue of 'interference by foreign powers' in the Lok Sabha elections.However, before Modi 3.0 takes charge, various speculations related to India's role in world politics are heating up the debate.
* Two major conflicts: Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas war
As two major conflicts, i.e. Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas war, are taking place, India's stance and its role is being monitored. It is quite clear that India simultaneously maintained a balanced approach in dealing with Russia and the United States by voting against it neither in the UNSC nor in the UNGA. Rather, it increased oil purchases from Russia while avoiding all pressure from the West by emphasizing its energy demands, which can also be reflected in the statement of India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Meanwhile, the Modi government has reaffirmed that it supports the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the two countries.The Israel-Hamas conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, following an unprovoked attack by the Hamas militia, has also left world leaders and various stakeholders with an eye on what stance India will take. India criticized the attack launched by Hamas, but at the same time, it advocated ceasefire and peace regarding the conflict between the two.
* India's position in the Global South and the United Nations
The third consecutive term of the Narendra Modi government will not only strengthen India's position in the global south but will also serve India's interest in world forums like the United Nations. India has been demanding a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for a long time, which was also mentioned in the BJP manifesto. "We are committed to seeking permanent membership of the UN Security Council to elevate India's position in global decision-making," the declaration said. If the government had not reiterated this, the stance might have been different, which is not the case.India's initiative, the International Solar Alliance, reflects the sustainable worldview that the Narendra Modi government has maintained on world forums. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi originally suggested the idea in a speech at Wembley Stadium (London) in November 2015, when he referred to sunny countries as Suryaputras ("sons of the Sun").
Subsequently, CCP-led China, which is becoming a challenge to democratic governments, and the Global South will also be controlled by the rising power of India under the NDA government. It is expected that the NDA government will focus more on multilateral alliances like QUAD to challenge the expansionism of the CCP. Moreover, being an emerging power in the Global South, India's zero tolerance stance on terrorism will definitely show the way to the world on how to deal with this menace and emerge as the undisputed leader of the Global South.* India's digital infrastructure: A role model for the world Narendra Modi government's ambitious plan created a world-class digital infrastructure in India that certainly paved the way for the world to reduce its dependence on cash and other forms of bureaucratic hassles . Many heads of state from different countries were found using digital payments at local vendors in India. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world grappled with social distancing, India's digital infrastructure proved to be the best in the world, shifting its operations from paper to paperless. Such infrastructure has previously been appreciated by global institutions and world leaders, which provides confidence in the government for more such initiatives.
In the long term, the Narendra Modi government is expected to perform better domestically and internationally.In this era of globalization and digitalization, the world is becoming one unit due to interdependence and interconnectedness. This unit can also be called a family, which has been recognized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in many global forums by calling it 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. That is why any activity by one country affects all, as we have seen in two major conflicts. Similarly, the world community as well as India's neighbors will be influenced by Narendra Modi's leadership.
(The author is the author of the book The Puritan Movement: US Universities and Their Anti-India Approach.Opinions are personal)
However, it all ended on Tuesday when the NDA finally defeated the India Bloc and is now set to form the next government.
The slogan of 'crossing 400' is over as NDA is nearing 300. Many factors like low turnout, Muslim solidarity, infighting, selection of candidates etc. have thwarted BJP's dream of 'crossing 400'. Besides, many reports also highlighted the issue of 'interference by foreign powers' in the Lok Sabha elections.However, before Modi 3.0 takes charge, various speculations related to India's role in world politics are heating up the debate.
* Two major conflicts: Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas war
As two major conflicts, i.e. Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas war, are taking place, India's stance and its role is being monitored. It is quite clear that India simultaneously maintained a balanced approach in dealing with Russia and the United States by voting against it neither in the UNSC nor in the UNGA. Rather, it increased oil purchases from Russia while avoiding all pressure from the West by emphasizing its energy demands, which can also be reflected in the statement of India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Meanwhile, the Modi government has reaffirmed that it supports the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the two countries.The Israel-Hamas conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, following an unprovoked attack by the Hamas militia, has also left world leaders and various stakeholders with an eye on what stance India will take. India criticized the attack launched by Hamas, but at the same time, it advocated ceasefire and peace regarding the conflict between the two.
* India's position in the Global South and the United Nations
The third consecutive term of the Narendra Modi government will not only strengthen India's position in the global south but will also serve India's interest in world forums like the United Nations. India has been demanding a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for a long time, which was also mentioned in the BJP manifesto. "We are committed to seeking permanent membership of the UN Security Council to elevate India's position in global decision-making," the declaration said. If the government had not reiterated this, the stance might have been different, which is not the case.India's initiative, the International Solar Alliance, reflects the sustainable worldview that the Narendra Modi government has maintained on world forums. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi originally suggested the idea in a speech at Wembley Stadium (London) in November 2015, when he referred to sunny countries as Suryaputras ("sons of the Sun").
Subsequently, CCP-led China, which is becoming a challenge to democratic governments, and the Global South will also be controlled by the rising power of India under the NDA government. It is expected that the NDA government will focus more on multilateral alliances like QUAD to challenge the expansionism of the CCP. Moreover, being an emerging power in the Global South, India's zero tolerance stance on terrorism will definitely show the way to the world on how to deal with this menace and emerge as the undisputed leader of the Global South.* India's digital infrastructure: A role model for the world Narendra Modi government's ambitious plan created a world-class digital infrastructure in India that certainly paved the way for the world to reduce its dependence on cash and other forms of bureaucratic hassles . Many heads of state from different countries were found using digital payments at local vendors in India. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world grappled with social distancing, India's digital infrastructure proved to be the best in the world, shifting its operations from paper to paperless. Such infrastructure has previously been appreciated by global institutions and world leaders, which provides confidence in the government for more such initiatives.
In the long term, the Narendra Modi government is expected to perform better domestically and internationally.In this era of globalization and digitalization, the world is becoming one unit due to interdependence and interconnectedness. This unit can also be called a family, which has been recognized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in many global forums by calling it 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. That is why any activity by one country affects all, as we have seen in two major conflicts. Similarly, the world community as well as India's neighbors will be influenced by Narendra Modi's leadership.
(The author is the author of the book The Puritan Movement: US Universities and Their Anti-India Approach.Opinions are personal)
