The Indian ‘Kingmakers’ Set to Prop Up Narendra Modi

The Indian ‘Kingmakers’ Set to Prop Up Narendra Modi

Financial Times

In the lead-up to India’s upcoming general elections, a group of regional parties known as “kingmakers” is emerging as a crucial force that could potentially decide the fate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

These regional parties, led by charismatic leaders, hold significant sway in their respective states and command a substantial number of seats in parliament. They include the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh.

Traditionally, kingmakers have played a balancing role in Indian politics, aligning with the national party that offers them the most favorable terms. In the run-up to the 2019 elections, however, the kingmakers are facing intense pressure from both the BJP and the opposition Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi.

Key Issues for Kingmakers

The kingmakers are likely to base their decisions on a range of issues, including:

Regional autonomy: The regional parties are concerned about protecting their states’ interests and autonomy from the central government.
Development and welfare: They want to ensure that their constituencies receive adequate funding and development projects.
Personal ambition: Some kingmakers may have their own leadership aspirations and could use their support to bargain for positions in a future government.

BJP’s Strategy

The BJP is actively courting the kingmakers, offering them ministerial positions and other incentives to secure their support. It has formed alliances with several smaller regional parties, including the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and the Akali Dal in Punjab.

Congress’s Challenge

The Congress party, which has traditionally relied on alliances with regional parties, is facing a major challenge in wooing the kingmakers. It has been weakened by a string of electoral defeats and internal divisions.

Outlook

The outcome of the 2019 elections hinges on the decisions of the kingmakers. If they choose to align with the BJP, Modi will have a strong chance of forming a majority government. However, if they side with the Congress or form their own alliance, the race could be thrown wide open.

The kingmakers thus hold the balance of power in Indian politics, and their choices will shape the future of the country for years to come.