PM Narendra Modi has changed the discourse and connected with the people

At 70, with path-breaking reforms in governance, Modi has shown how Indian democracy can deliver. One of the most significant contributions to his credit is snatching representative democracy from the jaws of cynicism.

javhar lala had some unique advantages. Considered to be Mahatma Gandhi’s political heir, he became the first PM and continued for 17 long years without any challenge. As the first PM of independent India, he had an obvious head start. Besides, his attractive personality and the perception that he will take India to a modern world contributed to the charisma that was gradually built around him. His daughter, Indira Gandhi, also had charisma, a sizable part of which she inherited from her father. Besides her decisive leadership, being the first woman PM of India also contributed to her charisma. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the other most charismatic PM. Besides his achievements like Pokhran-2 and the Golden Quadrilateral, his inimitable oratory and poetry too contributed to his charisma. However, post-Vajpayee, it can be reasonably argued that the era of charismatic leadership is over. The millennial voter of the 21st century is more business-like in her approach. This approach demands good intent coupled with honest and intelligent efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi satisfies these criteria completely. Add to this, his innovative ideas for good governance and his mind-boggling ability to work extraordinarily hard. He has taken the leadership discourse in India beyond charisma.

Since May 2014, PM Modi has established several things. He has shown that non-Congress governments, even after remaining in power for a full term, can successfully renew and improve on their popular mandate. He is known not just for his decisiveness but also a strong political will emerging from his courage of conviction. Driven by a strong sense of purpose, he has tried to restore the centrality of being result-oriented, something the millennial generation values greatly. He reaches out to the electorate effectively, establishes a strong popular connect and earns a mandate. He then moves ahead, unwaveringly, taking decisions in the national interest, without unduly worrying about their popularity. Similarly, in Railways, where rivalries between different services were harming the common interest, the government has now dissolved them into a common service cadre. PM Modi’s government is also actively working towards merging the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha TV channels as two independent channels for one unified Parliament are a luxury.