By Sugeeswara Senadhira
Colombo, June 7 (Daily News): Shri Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance won the majority seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, the lower house of representatives, assuring him a consecutive third 5-year term as Prime Minister of India, the world’s biggest democracy.
Although the NDA fell way short of its ambitious target of 2/3rd majority, the alliance managed to win enough seats to form a comfortable government. In line with Modi’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, he has invited top leaders of neighbouring countries Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Mauritius for the oath-taking ceremony tomorrow (June 8).
As part of an election pledge to transform India into a global manufacturing hub, Premier Modi’s third term is expected to prioritise speedy economic development with a special focus on increasing domestic production.
Though the BJP may tone down some of the domestic policies as it will have to give more accommodation to alliance partners, India’s foreign policy is likely to continue unchanged. Modi’s trusted confidantes such as powerful ministers Rajnath Singh, diplomats-turned-politicians, Subramaniam Jayashankar and Hardeep Singh Puri – incidentally both served as senior diplomats in Sri Lanka in the 1980s and 1990s – will continue in their positions.
Diplomatic Arena
After the brief halt in New Delhi’s international presence due to prolonged 5-phase Parliamentary Elections, now there will be hectic action in the diplomatic arena. Both Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Jayashankar will have a heavy schedule ahead as India will continue to enhance its influence globally with more vigour.
Premier Modi’s foreign policy goals have included increasing India’s global standing, fostering economic growth through international partnerships, strengthening regional cooperation, and ensuring national security. He has also emphasised India’s role as a responsible global actor and sought to further improve ties with key strategic partners while maintaining a balanced approach towards major powers like the United States, Russia and also with China.
With economy as his top priority, Premier will attend the global economic power bloc G7 Summit in Italy on June 13-15. In July he is scheduled to participate in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan.
Former Indian Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar said that the election victory will give result in Modi’s influence and India’s clout to grow considerably in the world. “The influence of India has grown over the last 10 years and it will become even more going forward. India will continue to focus on expanding its economic strength because, over the last 10 years, it has improved its position in the world from the 10th to the 5th largest economy and the country should grow to the third largest economy. When our economy grows, India’s capacity to play a much bigger role in the global platform also increases”, he said.
SCO Summit in Kazakhstan will give an opportunity for Modi to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping once again. “China has not been taking India’s concerns seriously and with PM Modi coming back to power, will certainly send out a message to Beijing that to have normal relations, it is important to maintain peace and tranquillity at the border,” Ambassador Sajjanhar said. “The ball is in China’s court”.
Ukraine Peace Summit
Jaishankar will be at the Russia-hosted BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) foreign ministers meeting where newly joined seven members will also be in attendance. He is also likely to participate in Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland.
Although India has rapidly expanded relations with the United States, it did not downgrade close friendship with Russia. India is likely to continue its normal relations with Russia. The manner in which India has used its strategic autonomy and maintained its relations with Russia in the face of very strong opposition from the West has increased the growing importance of India for Moscow.
India will strive to increase economic ties with China despite growing collaboration with the US on the area of defense, economy and technology. New Delhi will continue to maintain strong and dynamic ties with Russia in terms of economy, trade, and defence.
Modi government will continue to maintain its focus on the US, Europe and the Pacific. India is also likely to host the Quad Summit meeting this year. Quad brings together four countries – India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, with a commitment to work as a force for global good and to support an open, free, and inclusive Indo-Pacific that is prosperous and resilient. New Delhi plans to host Quad Summit before the US election this year. President Joe Biden will visit New Delhi for the summit, and it might send out a strong message that India is supportive of Biden’s Presidency.
During the meeting between President Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Modi last year, the two leaders have agreed to improve Sri Lanka – India economic and energy ties, as well as connectivity.
Economic Partnership
“Being a close friend, as always, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Sri Lanka,” Modi said after his discussions with Wickremesinghe.He said the two leaders “adopted a vision document for our Economic Partnership” to strengthen maritime, air, energy and people-to-people connectivity, to accelerate mutual cooperation in tourism, power, trade, higher education, and skill development.”
Modi also said the two sides would work quickly to connect their electricity grids and study the feasibility of building a petroleum pipeline and a land bridge between the countries.
The projects to connect the power grids through undersea cables and the oil pipeline were expected to cost about $4bn in total, according to officials on both sides. Few details were released on the agreements on renewables.
Wickremesinghe said that “constructing a multi-product petroleum pipeline from the southern part of India to Sri Lanka will ensure an affordable and reliable supply of energy to Sri Lanka.”
The two countries also will soon restart negotiations on a more expansive trade deal known as the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement.
President Wickremesinghe said he had updated the Indian Prime Minister about the reform measures being taken by his government to resolve Sri Lanka’s financial crisis and expressed appreciation for the support provided by India for the “most challenging period in modern history”.
India is part of a common platform established with Japan and other Paris Club members to help Sri Lanka restructure its debt. It remains a key creditor with $1.9bn in outstanding debt.
Special Statement
To underline the importance of Modi’s victory, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena made a special statement in Parliament on Wednesday pointing out that it was significant that Modi became the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time by obtaining a resounding victory at the world’s largest democratic exercise.
“I wish success for achieving new goals of peace and development in economic and other fields. Therefore, as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, I hope that this victory will give strength to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to develop strong, long-term bilateral and mutual ties between Sri Lanka and India,” he said.
“It is indeed an endorsement of Your Excellency’s able leadership by the people of India at the biggest democratic franchise in the world,” Premier Gunawadena stated and added that the electoral victory was also a ratification of the policies of Modi government and the rapid progress made to make India a respected global economic power.
Despite PM Modi’s busy schedule, President Wickremesinghe is expected to have detailed discussions with the Indian leader about the steps needed to further consolidate bilateral ties and close economic cooperation.
Daily News Editorial/June 6, 2024
As widely anticipated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode to victory at the just concluded General Election- the first time since 1962 that an Indian Premier had won three terms in a row. On that occasion it was Sri Jawaharlal Nehru from the Congress Party who was the victor, making Modi the first non-Congress leader to take over the reins in an electoral hat-trick. The victory though was by a smaller margin than expected compared to the landslides won by Premier Modi on both previous occasions and according to media reports Modi was anticipating cobbling together a coalition to garner a comfortable majority that would make him govern unhampered.
The victory is an indication that Modi had not grown stale with the Indian voters who looked to a leader who can take the country forward and place it on the world map to compete on equal terms with the Superpowers. However, the low majority he received is also an indication that local issues more than anything else played a dominant part in this election, particularly, unemployment and the high Cost of Living. One should also not forget that India was among the worst affected by the pandemic and its fallout too could have had an impact on the final result.
Yet, Modi’s victory shows that the Indian voters, by and large, had reposed their trust in the Premier in the face of the mounting Opposition launched by the Gandhi clan whose Congress Party showed much improvement by polling a respectable tally. A party or alliance that wins more than 272 seats in the 543 Member Parliament (Lok Sabha) can form a Government. According to the latest reports, though, Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had won 290 seats while the Opposition bloc appropriately named I.N.D.I.A also made a comeback of sorts winning 234 seats. Modi’s victory was anticipated largely due to his charisma and economic policies which had benefited the Indian Middle Class. His standing on the world stage, too possibly had an impact with the Indian voters. Modi is considered to be among the world’s foremost leaders with high recognition bestowed on him by other Heads of State including those of the US and Russia. The manner in which he is dealing with the Kashmir problem and his tough stand against Pakistan and China vis-à-vis border and security issues too may have swayed the voters. His simplicity and down-to-Earth attitude too had won for him many votes particularly among the rural folk.
Perhaps, this could be one of the reasons why the Gandhis fell behind in the count which prompted one Indian commentator to suggest that Rahul Gandhi should obtain the service of an advisor. The Congress which ushered in Independence to India has now been out of power for over two decades and suggestions have also been made for a change in the leadership if its fortunes are to change. They say the party might have to give up dynastic politics to curry favour with the voters at the next State and General Elections.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to attend the swearing in ceremony of Modi and Sri Lanka, no doubt, would take this opportunity to further cement relations with India which have been on the ascendency during the past two tenures of Premier Modi. One recalls Modi’s visit to this country at the beginning of his second term where his good rapport with Sri Lanka was much in evidence. In any event, Sri Lanka has always been a close friend of India from the very inception particularly marked during the tenure of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike where this relationship between her and Indira Gandhi took on a personal as well as professional note. (One also recalls Premier Bandaranaike permitting the landing of Indian planes on Sri Lanka soil during India’s war with Pakistan over Bangladesh in the early 70s). India also assisted us a great deal during the latter stages of the Eelam War by providing the military with sophisticated war material including radar devices that helped pinpoint enemy positions. India also came to our rescue during the Covid pandemic.
The election of Premier Modi for a third successive tenure will certainly enhance and foster the relationships built over the years and evidence of this has already been demonstrated in ample measure. India under Modi was among the first countries to come out with a generous financial package during Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis for which we must be ever grateful. There are numerous other ways in which India has come to our assistance both by way of aid and moral support. No doubt, under the new tenure of Narendra Modi we will be showered with more such assistance that will help rebuild our nation through enhanced energy, oil and land connectivity. Of particular interest would be the development of our tourism industry with Indian assistance. Indian tourists form the bulk of tourist arrivals in this country and hence measures should be devised to swell these numbers that would bring in much-needed foreign exchange. Other avenues too should be explored to benefit from India’s generosity, economy wise.
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