PM Modi needs a Consigliere

Governing in the cesspool that is Delhi is markedly different from governing at a state level.  For that matter, Delhi itself is vastly different from say DC or Beijing or any other prominent political capital.  The crooks in those capitals play by a set of rules.  Rules that are only occasionally violated.  And when violated the punishment is severe.  A “Watergated” Nixon being a prime example.

Delhi on the other hand takes no prisoners.  It has been the capital of intrigue much longer than any other city.  Governing a populace and geographic foot print larger than any other capital in Human history.

More importantly, Delhi has seen it all.  Rulers and Dynasties have come and go, but good old Delhi chews them up and spits them out eventually.

It is this swamp of pimps, hos and assassins which Narendra Damodardas Modi has made it his life’s mission to reform and transform. 

What we’re witnessing today is a silent but lethal (may be even fatal) struggle between Delhi and PM Modi.

Only a man with NaMo’s courage, sagacity and wisdom could attempt to reform this city and bring her to her knees. 

But much like ABV, PM Modi is missing a key component in the political arsenal he has assembled.  That piece is an Amit Shah like figure within the government.  No not someone like Ahmed Patel.  Patel after all was a product of Delhi. 

What I’m describing here is a political mind who would guide and position NDA’s every action in the optimum political framework.  In fact it would help if such an individual was allowed to vet every government policy initiative before making it public.

It is the lack of such a Consigliere which has made NDA look like a one-step-forward-two-steps-back government.  Given the PM’s immense popularity and the relative youth of this government, none of UPA’s allegations are sticking.  But the Teflon may start wearing off around mid-2016.  When govt policies are more work-in-progress with little to show in terms of results.  Finding and recruiting a politico-government senapati at such a late juncture would prove ineffective and worst still, counterproductive.  Time for installing said Consigliere is now.

Moreover, BJP is interacting with the outside world, much the same way Congress did:

• Declare a policy or program
• Engage prime time news anchors in a nightly wrestling match
• Come back bruised and live to fight another day.

This tactic worked for UPA-1.  But once corruption charges started piling up, the very act of engaging non-Congress, non-UPA channels resulted in Sonia digging an even deeper hole for her brood and herself.

The Xmas controversy, Ghar Wapsi damp squib, are merely symptoms of this flawed, listless ‘strategy’ if indeed there’s one.

What it suggests is that opposition ranks, through their well nurtured assets in media, NGOs, etc. are sniffing around, probing to find a chink in NDA’s armor.

With Sonia’s corruption still fresh in people’s mind, this sniffing has yielded little.  But a few more months of a perceived drift and BJP will spend more time firefighting than governing and before you know it campaign 2019 will be underway with little to show for 3.5 years of governance.

By 2017, PM Modi will no longer be measured against performance of his predecessor but the vision of his former self i.e. CM Modi.

Given these variables, a Chief of Staff, Senapati, Consigliere within the PMO is of vital importance.

What would his/her resume look like and what would be the mandate?

Mandate:

1. Coordinate between various wings of the government on the correct message to be given to the larger public
   1. Do this without slowing down decision making
2.  
3. Pre-sell every policy by creating a ‘teaser’ campaign in the media
   1. Test the waters by feeding ‘inside’ info to non-state actors such as economists, journalists not associated with the BJP
   2. Keep a distance from these campaigns so ‘plausible deniability’ is seldom sacrificed
4. Dig up dirt on every Sonia asset in the media and NGO network.
   1. Tranquilize these assets by sending a subtle message without causing any public exposure or loss of face to them
5. On an ongoing basis anticipate and monitor fallout of government policies
6. Keep the NaMo Army engaged and equipped to confront future challenges
7. Game NDA’s policies to ‘predict’ their likely outcome
8. Conduct a political ROI of Govt programs
9. Collect and document data to establish NDA’s superior performance
10. Channel data/results back to government to help improve performance of various policies
11. Channel feedback from social media into various government initiatives so as to create a sense of partnership
12. Ensure that valid suggestions find their way into policies and programs

Resume:

1. Unknown face
2. Immersed in Sangh’s ideology
3. Someone who understands and can predict political fallout of government programs and policies
4. Committed to a ‘Congress Mukht Bharat’
5. Experienced in media management
   1. Not friendly or acquainted with any media outlet
   2. Has no history of interaction with media or NGO channels
6. Needless to say, completely non-corrupt
7. Tough, uncompromising and ruthless
8. Ability to engage a diverse section of BJP supporters – from board rooms to the political akhadas

In short, NDA needs a Sicilian consigliere.

Hope PM Modi can find such a person.  Would help reduce the noise and allow government to function more smoothly and deliver 2019.