Bihar Rout: Intl Media Fret Over Defeat Of Reforms Push, Fault Modi, His Men
09 November, New Delhi
International media reacted with dismay over the defeat of development agenda and faulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers for campaign time antics for the rout in Bihar elections.
Terming the defeat “a severe political setback”, the US’s leading daily New York Times described how Modi was outsmarted by Nitish-Lalu duo in a build up to polls.
Kumar(Nitish Kumar) proved a formidable opponent, especially after he did the unthinkable and teamed up with his longtime rival in Bihari politics, Lalu Prasad, to defeat Modi. The two men, masters of manipulating caste politics, have run Bihar for the past 25 years, and they gleefully portrayed Mr Modi as a globe-trotting elitist outsider who had consistently failed to deliver on his big promises.” the NYT wrote.
German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle in its report maintained a more fatalistic tone, wondering if Modi could survive the political assault for a second term as PM.
“Bihar is the second major defeat for Modi’s party. In February, the party was trounced in Delhi state elections. The loss will set back plans to push major economic reforms through the national parliament where the BJP lacks a majority. It may even inspire rivals in Modi’s own party amid concern he may not win a second term as prime minister,” Deutsche Welle reported, shortly after the results were out.
Australia’s popular Sydney Morning Herald had no consolation to offer to the Modi government already hemmed in by a strident Opposition in the Rajya Sabha against a push for economic reforms.
” Modi’s economic agenda could be further derailed because the BJP lost a chance to gain seats in Parliament’s upper house, whose members are selected by state assemblies. The upper house is dominated by opposition parties that have stymied many of Mr Modi’s major proposals,” the paper observed.
UK’s powerful public broadcaster BBC in its analysis “India PM Narendra Modi in Bihar election setback” noted no amount of explanations could undo the damage to Modi’s aura.
“Despite what his defenders say, Sunday’s defeat is another blow to the charismatic Modi, who is arguably the party’s biggest vote-getter and who attended 26 campaign rallies in Bihar ahead of the vote. The results make it clear that Modi’s vote-catching abilities are on the wane and voters are already holding him to the promises he made to them last year,” BBC said.
It predicted a rough road ahead. “For India’s bedraggled opposition, the Bihar victory is a major shot in the arm. They will now be emboldened to challenge Modi by forging alliances and change the narrative of Indian politics.”
British media also said the fresh election defeat may overshadow Modi’s visit to the UK starting this mid-week.
Nepal’s popular daily The Himalayan Times, seen as Modi backer often, also seconded the BBC view and said the result would diminish Modi’s international standing and doubted his return as PM in 2019.
“Modis second straight regional election setback will galvanise opposition parties, embolden rivals in his own party and diminish his standing with foreign leaders amid concern he may not win a second term as prime minister,” The Himalayan Times noted.