Decoding the dance of democracy – Key takeaways from NaMo’s massive electoral victory

May 23, 2019 was an electrifying day in the history of independent India. Like the entire country, I too was glued to my television and kept refreshing the news feed on my smartphone to stay updated on the go. The results were exciting to watch, as news channels took us through roller coaster rides of stalwarts crashing to the ground and hitherto unknown people from humble origins emerging victorious. With the highest ever participation from millennial voters and women, the excitement was at fever pitch.

From a statistical and logistical point of view, the Indian general elections of 2019 were a massive feat for the country.

• With over 900 million eligible voters and a high turnout of 67.11%, the elections were the world’s biggest democratic exercise.
• The Election Commission deployed over 1.7 million VVPAT (voter-verified paper audit trail) units and 3.96 million EVMs (electronic voting machines) in more than 1 lakh polling stations.
• Besides, over 2 million state police personnel and 2.7 lakh paramilitary personnel ensured safety and security.

Conducted in seven phases over a month, the process was mostly smooth, barring hurdles in Vellore, Anantnag, and Tripura – a true testament to the efficiency and operational excellence of the Election Commission.

“The decisions of voters in the vast country of 1.3 billion people have been driven by many local concerns, caste, and religion, or rumours and opinions traded over WhatsApp or cups of chai at a tea stand. But the figure of Modi has towered over the contest like no prime minister since Indira Gandhi in the 1970s,” wrote the Guardian.

Commenting on the bullish market trends, The New York Times wrote, “Many investors are confident that another Modi government will be good for business, and his victory was seen as a vote for stability. During his first term, Mr. Modi simplified a byzantine tax system, cracked down on corruption and overhauled India’s corporate bankruptcy system. After it became clear that Mr. Modi’s government was returning to power, India’s stock market shot up 2 percent, to a record high.”

For a keen observer, the elections and results have management lessons to teach.

• The NDA’s landslide victory against the UPA and Mahagathbandhan teaches us that strong leadership with clearly defined direction is essential for victory.
• Forming alliances without leveraging the resultant synergies can be detrimental for customer retention.
• While the Congress stuck to traditional ways of opponent bashing, the BJP redefined its strategies to suit modern voters and opted for the ‘Vikas’ narrative that is more relevant – highlighting the fact that to stay relevant in a fast-evolving marketplace, one should always offer disruptive products and services.

From a personal perspective, here are a few life lessons from the recent Lok Sabha elections

• Transformation – The election results represent the changing voter preferences – from caste-based politics to growth-based agendas. The ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ policy of the NDA government changed people’s lives through large-scale programmes like Jan Dhan Yojana and Swachh Bharath Abhiyan – which yielded visible results that were later clearly communicated. Moreover, niche-centric initiatives led to the government gaining recognition for its efforts to electrify villages, educate girls, etc. These examples prove that we should always be open to changes and improvements in the right direction.
• Courage – Change is never easy, and it takes a true leader to be the harbinger of change, even in the face of troubles. Demonetization and GST are the cases in point. Also, when demonetization caused public inconvenience, the challenging situation made way for the emergence of digital payment platforms and cashless transactions. On the other hand, GST simplified tax collection processes, cut down indirect taxes to make some products and services cheaper for consumers, and introduced transparency. These examples teach us that although initial adjustments to changes are tough, courage helps us overcome the difficulties and reap advantages in the long run.
• Communication – Effective communication is crucial for success, on both professional and personal fronts. With his exemplary oration skills, Narendra Modi could clearly and consistently deliver the success stories of his government’s efforts. He also utilized digital portals to the best possible extent – from Instagram travel stories to capture the attention of millennials to NaMo TV to reach out to the masses – assuming complete control of the narrative. From these, we can learn that the art of communication is as essential as accomplishing a goal.

I congratulate Shri Narendra Modiji for the historic win and welcome his vision for inclusive growth – “A government is formed with people’s mandate but keeping in mind the spirit of India’s democracy, we have to remember that the government works with inclusion. We have to look forward and move forward along with everyone – even the opposition, for the benefit of the country. And that’s why even after this massive mandate, we have to move forward with humility and within the limits of democracy.” A truly inspiring speech, indeed! May the next five years shape up our dream of ‘Naya Bharat.’

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