The poll results are also an endorsement of Prime Minister Modi’s comments he made at one of his rallies when he attributed the success of Operation Ganga to India’s rise to power over the World Scene.
New Delhi: The four out of five election result for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can be attributed to some extent to the steadfast, determined and extraordinary global reach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which led to “India’s substantial rise ” on the global platform. The surge of saffron in most states that have recently gone to the polls suggests that Prime Minister Modi’s “masterstrokes” on the foreign policy front have struck a chord with voters.
As he addressed party workers after the election victory at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday, what Prime Minister Modi said was, in fact, a confirmation of how voters endorsed diplomatic positions that his government has taken from time to time. Referring to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi said on Thursday, “India’s many needs are related to the countries concerned, but she is on the side of peace and hopes that all problems will be solved through dialogue”. He added, “In this uncertain environment of upheaval, the people of India, especially states like Uttar Pradesh, have shown their foresight.” “The way voters gave their mandate for stable governments in these polls means that democracy runs through the veins of Indians,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi’s message was loud and clear to the global community as well as Indian politicians who questioned his government’s stance on the conflict in Ukraine. The BJP’s massive mandate in the UP and other states is the people’s response to those who question India’s Ukrainian position. The poll results are also an endorsement of Prime Minister Modi’s comments he made at one of his rallies when he attributed the success of Operation Ganga – an evacuation mission in Ukraine – to the rise in power of India on the world stage. What created a positive impact of Prime Minister Modi’s diplomacy among the people of the contending states was that the President of Ukraine and other world leaders asked him to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war . The fact that Putin continued to brief Prime Minister Modi on the conflict situation “reinforced the belief in the strength of his leadership on the world stage”. Even diplomats from the Department of External Affairs (MEA) analyze how the government’s diplomatic positions have been well received by voters. “Prime Minister Modi not bowing to pressure from Quad members over India’s stance on Ukraine was appreciated even by his political opponents,” a diplomat told the Sunday Guardian.
While expressing satisfaction with law and order, development and other issues in UP, voters in the more remote parts of the state have publicly appreciated Prime Minister Modi’s bold foreign policy moves. What is interesting for diplomats is how the current dispensation’s foreign policy has impacted domestic electoral politics. “That major powers such as the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy are coming to India was the perception of the voters. These countries are unable to bully us today with Modi as prime minister,” a foreign service official says. Prime Minister Modi’s surgical strike on Pakistan continues to thrill voters. “People attributed to the aggressive diplomacy of the Modi government that Pakistan continues to be on the FATF gray list,” the sources said.
China being under enormous pressure due to Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic offensive was another reason cited by some for supporting the BJP. “Some voters were of the view that India’s pressure and the foreign minister’s tough rhetoric forced China to come to the dialogue table,” a source said.
What has also dominated public discourse is that Prime Minister Modi has been named the most popular leader in the world with an approval rating of 71% of India’s adult population. A US-based global leader endorsement tracker, Morning Consult had released this result. Among the 13 leaders surveyed by the research firm, PM Modi tops the list with 71%. US President Joe Biden and Canadian Justin Trudeau were far behind him. “It was another certificate of Prime Minister Modi’s international image,” a diplomat said.
“Needless to say, India’s international standing has improved tremendously over the past seven years,” a diplomat said. “Although the members of the Quad, including the almighty United States, criticize Russia, India has continued to take a different stance due to the determination of Prime Minister Modi,” he adds. He insisted that India wants peace which can only be achieved through dialogue.
Voters also recalled how the global community praised Prime Minister Modi’s vaccination policy in what was another great global achievement of his government.
Moreover, Prime Minister Modi’s outspoken comments during his Independence Day speech at Red Fort were remembered by UP voters when he said, “India is fighting with great courage against the double challenge of terrorism and expansionism, and does not hesitate to make difficult decisions. “He said that by carrying out surgical and airstrikes, the country was sending the message of a ‘New India’.
“This was welcomed by voters in Uttar Pradesh as the ‘New India’ refrain cemented Prime Minister Modi’s image of being a strong leader,” sources said. It is undeniable that the huge public reaction to Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy initiatives aimed at containing China’s “enemies” from Pakistan to the Taliban has also boosted the energy levels of BJP workers and leaders. BJP MP Hema Malini was so quick to take advantage when she declared to thunderous applause at a rally that everyone in the world wanted PM Modi to stop the Russian-Ukrainian war .
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