BJP win: Reforms to get a boost

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Bikky Khosla | 14 Mar, 2017
It is another thumping victory for Brand Modi. While in UP and Uttarakhand, the BJP secured landslide wins, bagging three-fourth majority, the party is likely to form its government also in Goa and Manipur, by cobbling up coalitions with regional players. The assembly elections in the five states were seen as a test for Modi's demonetisation move and the spectacular results show that demonetisation has largely been accepted by voters. This win, besides positioning the BJP as the leading political party in the country, has also brightened its prospects for 2019 general elections.

The government should take the victory as an opportunity to unveil its reform agenda. Demonetisation was a big political risk Narendra Modi took and the state election results show that the people are ready to welcome reforms even if they have to face some hardship for doing that. I think it is now the government's turn to meet the expectations of the people who are looking with a new hope for an all-round economic development of the country. After the latest results, more than 60% of the countryâs population now lives in states either ruled by the BJP alone or in partnership and this should be taken as an opportunity by the Centre to push growth and good governance in the states.

The win is also expected to boost the BJPâs numbers in the Rajya Sabha, where the party has long been struggling for want of numbers. It at present has 56 seats in the House, as opposed to 59 seats held by the Congress, and with elections due this year and next year, it can be expected that the dynamics will change soon in favour of the party. In the past we have seen how difficult it can be for the government to push reforms without having a majority in both Houses, and now with the stunning win, I hope this situation will change soon and the economy will get rid of politics of disruption.

If India needs to grow faster, structural reforms are a must, and with this win I hope both willingness and ability of the government to push reforms will get a significant boost and its remaining two years will see some bold reform initiatives, including those on politically sensitive land and labour reforms. Besides, there is also an urgent need for education and health reforms, administrative and legal reforms. Job creation is another challenge that must be tackled if the Modi government wants to transform India's economy in the coming years.

I invite your opinions.