India's Goal: $50 Trillion

Say Modi becomes Prime Minister and he does well for 10 years. Even then he will have taken India only to maybe six trillion dollars. Who will take India to the next level after that? These first 10 years are crucial. The system will produce the next leader, no doubt. But the goal is clear: 50 trillion dollars.

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Modi Ran An Excellent Campaign

English: nehal,narendra modi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Narendra Modi might or might not become Prime Minister, very likely he will, we will know in a few days, but there is one thing very clear: he ran an excellent campaign. His campaign was unprecedented. Steps he took on his campaign trail will be emulated in democracies like America in a few years.

I never got to follow his work in Gujrat, although all indicators are that the work has been excellent. But I did follow his election campaign. And I must say I am very impressed.

Nothing was left to chance. All details were thought through and taken care of. He was gentle and aggressive at the same time. It was high-tech. And that is one arena where he left everyone else in the dust. He used social media like you would expect Rahul to, considering Rahul is younger and has had western education. But Rahul does not seem to be enamored by social media. And that might be partly elitist. He assumes people know him. Whereas Modi feels like he has work to do before people will know him.

If Modi becomes Prime Minister, he will stay Prime Minister for 10 years. He will do excellent work. And he will get rewarded. In five years he might finally take the BJP to getting a majority on its own. And at that point the BJP will have become the new Congress.

I am not taking May 16 for granted. I will wait for the results. But I wanted to note Modi's excellence on the campaign trail beforehand. Even in India a Modi is possible. He started where he started in life, and look where he is today.

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Modi Has A Shot

English: Narendra Modi in Press Conference (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have been reading news on Indian elections quite literally every day. It has been fascinating. I don't watch sports. I watch politics. The outcome is far from clear, but I think Modi has a shot at the top job.

There was no way Rahul could have beat the anti-incumbency wave. But it has perplexed me how Modi has been the only one running for the top job. He first ran a primary inside his party that holds no primaries. Then he ran a presidential campaign in a country that does not hold a presidential election. He has challenged the basic rules, and I have thought that as impressive.

No matter who wins, who loses, 2014 is the watershed year for India. After this election India takes off in a big way. That is the impression I am getting.

Post May 16 is key. There is a possibility something by the name of a Secular Front might emerge. It all depends on the numbers. If the BJP is below or too close to 200, such a Front could emerge. Or Modi could end up getting a mandate. I have not known to follow or believe in the surveys or polls. Either they have overestimated Modi, or they have underestimated him. But I don't feel like they are accurate.

My horse in the race has been Nitish. He has been the top performing Chief Minister. And there is also that Bihari pride thing. But looks like he has not had a clear national strategy. Or maybe there is a point in waiting for May 16 for that strategy to emerge. India is an indirect democracy. People elect their MPs. Then those MPs elect the Prime Minister. So anything could happen. I will wait and watch.

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