Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi is back with an absolute majority, and as we all know with great power comes great responsibility.

Here is my wish-list for our all powerful Prime Minister.

1. Introduce the long-pending structural reforms. The 33% Women Representation bill for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha by making it mandatory for every political party to give 33% tickets to women candidates. Yes, for starters, they will mostly be proxies from political families. But a good number of them will win on merit and competence. Plus women tend to take responsibilities more seriously. Enough to be a game-changer.

Bring in the much needed police reforms to free them from the clutches of the unscrupulous politicians. Our under-staffed  police force is still guided by the Police Act of 1861. Let them as a professional force report to a professional,independent  governing body or Security Commission. Let transfers, promotions, emoluments, over-time, perks, recruitment, training, facilities, housing be all administered by this institution. Which functionally reports to the Home Ministry.

Black money and cash for votes play a big role in our elections. Our politics continues to be dominated by the much-vaunted winnability formula of money, muscle, caste and creed. This also ensures that we are cursed with incompetent and venal leaders and representatives. The same dynastic and musical chair games continues every five years. A political funding bill needs to be passed and is overdue. It does not suit our political parties including the BJP. It is imperative for the concerned citizen to know the source of funds. Who contributed and how much. Limits can be put for legal funding by individuals, trusts and corporates. It is going to be a rocky road but any major change will encounter that. This will also level the field for more decent and capable people who want to play an active role in our public life.

Vote in the Criminality law. People with criminal track records or facing serious charges should be banned from contesting elections. India deserves better leaders. Mr Modi can take the lead by ensuring that his party will give tickets to good people only in the coming Assembly polls. Consign the undemocratic winnability formula and dynastic politics to the dust-bin.

2. Good Economics is the best politics. The overwhelming majority of Indians only seek a better life for themselves and especially their children. ‘The Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” slogan will be really put to the test in this second term. Expectations are sky-high. If the right laws, progammes and initiatives are not put into place within the next 12 months the Modi aura will be greatly diminished. Whether it is addressing the farmer distress or the MSP issue; water conservation; power generation;generating employment for millions; putting infrastructure on the fast-track; rationalising the GST and income-tax slabs; the opportunity for off-shoring in the wake if the US-China trade war- all will require vision, commitment and a political will to really deliver on the ground. People are tired of slogans and empty promises. They ache for really good governance.

3. The need of the hour is a few good statesmen. Can the tallest political leader evolve into one in his second innings? Can he break-out from the Sangh Parivar mould and become the talisman for our great, diverse and pluralistic land? Can he avoid the trap of surrounding himself with Yes men and courtiers? Can he bring in some intelligent, committed professionals like Deepak Parikh, Arif Mohammed Khan and Nandan Nilekini to consult and advise on critical policy decisions? All for the greater good.

Will Mr Modi stand up and fight for the independence of institutions like the Supreme Court, the RBI, the CBI and the Armed Forces?

Where does ‘ the Sabka Vishwas’ kick in? The PM has to have his ear to the ground. The situation and sentiments on the ground. The fears and insecurities of a sizable section of our fellow countrymen. Will the PM have to gumption to really shut-up the motor-mouths in his party? Will he drop a minister or suspend an MP or MLA for inflammatory or divisive comments? Will he facilitate more moderation and maturity in our political discourse through personal example? Set high standards for conduct in polity and public life. The PM recently commented that the minorities have been exploited as a vote bank for too long. Does he really have a plan to reach out to the minorities to address their genuine concerns and win their Vishwas? There are developing fault-lines in our society where Modiji has to apply the balm. And the message has to go down the line to the karyakartas.

Before his address in the Parliament Hall, he again bowed to the Constitution as his sacred book. Will we citizens see this idea of India put into practice consistently? Most Indians are put off by a divisive rhetoric. All we want is a better quality of life.

The Prime Minister should have realised by now that people have voted for him in humungous numbers. In many ways the 2019 elections have been like a Presidential election and the BJP has just ridden the Modi wave. Many voters did not know who the local BJP or even NDA candidate was. All the talk was about Modi. So it is time that he occasionally steps out to take questions from voices critical to him. At a Town Hall, a University campus or even an interview at a hostile TV channel. This is the sure way of connecting with those sections of the populace where his name strikes a negative chord. Remember the words-‘ Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. Indians are an emotional people and oftentime perception is more potent than fact. The last component of the slogan can be the enabler for the challenging journey ahead.

India has missed huge opportunites in the past to accelerate economic growth with Indira Gandhi in 1972 and Rajiv Gandhi in 1984. Both enjoyed huge mandates but could not put their popular authority to effective use in the best interests of the country. Na Mo 2.0 is another huge moment for the nation. The hopes and aspirations of a billion plus people and esp. the younger generation rests on the Hon PM and his handpicked team.

Will they deliver?