This week on Hafta, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Shardool Katyayan are joined by journalist, author and former Amnesty India executive director Aakar Patel.

The conversation begins with PM Modi completing 4,399 uninterrupted days in office and what his tenure has meant for Indian politics.

On Modi’s political appeal, Aakar argued that Modi occupies a unique position within the BJP that no other leader currently matches. 

“Modi can’t be replaced. He is sui generis. There is nobody like him. There are many aspects to him that are unique. He is the only person in the BJP who brings in, through his charisma, both the nut job voter who wants the Muslims to be screwed over, plus he has got this sort of aspirational bent to him.”

Raman agreed that the party could face a difficult transition after him. “Things change in politics every hour. But yes, with Modi, politics is at a standstill in a way. I think after Modi, I can’t visualise anybody from the BJP winning.” 

The discussion moved towards Modi’s public persona and his interactions with global leaders. Asked why Modi appears noticeably warmer on the international stage, Aakar said that it stems from a long-standing desire for recognition and validation.

Drawing on his experience of meeting Modi during the 2002 Gujarat riots as part of an Editors Guild delegation, Aakar said this need for validation has remained consistent over the years.

“He required validation, and I think that extends to the globe. The reason why ANI and the other networks have cut off the audio from his meetings with leaders of the Global North... he is not seen this way with the leaders from Africa, for instance, because that’s not the set of people that he wants validation from.”

The panel then talked about political defections and the growing churn within opposition parties. 

On the rebellion within the Trinamool Congress, Manisha said: “It’s disgusting to see what’s happening with TMC. And this has to be asked. The leader also has to take responsibility for this. Both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.”

All this and more.

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