The beginning of the second half of 2019 should be to the satisfaction of Modi because he was able to fulfill many issues in the party’s core agenda but the year 2020-triggered unexpected challenges.

Politically, as soon as his second term began, he undertook several bold decisions and implemented some of BJP’s core agenda. These include revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, bifurcation of the state, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya following a Supreme Court ruling, the abolition of Triple Talaq as a first step of going for Uniform Civil Code and so on.

In Parliament the BJP had not only strengthened its position but also weakened the opposition by dividing them. The party’s performance in polls were mixed. The Prime Minister was able to push through bold bills like the Constitution Amendment bill providing citizenship to refugees coming from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan (except for Muslims) and the three farm bills. But the CAA led to unprecedented protests, particularly among the Muslim community who had apprehensions about their citizenship and the farmers rose in revolt against the farm bills. Both these have become issues of international concern.

The anti - CAA agitations were backed by the opposition parties. Delhi and other places saw several people protesting against the law although the BJP gave it a communal colour. Had not the Covid attack happened, the agitation would have continued for a repeal of the CAA. Even now, the minute the government prepares to implement these laws, the protests are likely to be resumed.

But what struck the country was the outbreak of the pandemic Covid 19 at the beginning of the year 2020. This became one of the biggest challenges not only for India but also for the entire world. Though unprepared, Prime Minister Modi took things in hand and led the nation in fighting the disease. Prime Minister led the nation by activating the chief ministers and also mobilizing their support. This sent a message of unity but later there was also politics as the non – BJP governments began to complain of not receiving adequate help. In 2021 the biggest challenge for the government is to get adequate vaccines and distribute them.

Unfortunately, because of the unprecedented lockdown for some months, there was chaos and it also led to not only the terrible plight of the migrant labor that was left to fend for themselves but also many had to walk back thousands of kilometers to their homes.

The lockdown also led to the shattering of the economy but India was not alone in this as the entire world was impacted. With some help for boosting the economy from the government, it is slowly picking up. The GDP growth is expected to be much less than.. There are many sectors like civil aviation, agriculture, tourism, hospitality and other areas that had suffered needs to be boosted. One of the major areas was the job loss. It was estimated that the job losses were at a 45 year high in 2018. This was due to the impact of the note ban and messy rollout of GST. Despite the high GDP growth making India one of the fastest-growing economies, the growth indicators also showed other problems.

Even as the country was struggling with Covid, the government got three farm laws passed in December 2019, which has triggered another headache for the Modi government. This has provoked thousands of farmers to protest. What started as a Punjab -centric protests have now spread to other states and right now thousands of farmers are camping in Delhi seeking repeal of the laws. They have dug in their heels and refusing to go back. The opposition supports the farmers lobby fully.

On the international side, the China is causing concerns on the border. China had always been a challenge for India but previously it refrained from asserting itself on the borders so blatantly. Indian and Chinese soldiers are in a faceoff at multiple friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The situation is particularly worrisome in eastern Ladakh; China is the biggest threat to Modi. The situation on the Indo- Pak borders is also a challenge.

On the domestic side, the NDA alliance won Bihar polls but Delhi went to AAP. In the coming year, there are elections to West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, which will see a keen fight between the BJP and the opposition including the regional parties. .For the Prime Minister, 2021 brings big challenges in economy, polity as also in international relations. (IPA Service)