Rahul’s ‘newfound zeal’ that came too late & the never-ending debate on India-China economy

Rahul’s ‘newfound zeal’ that came too late & the never-ending debate on India-China economy

New Delhi: Will Rahul Gandhi be able to mount a challenge to PM Modi? The Economist joined the Congress leader in the final leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that culminated in Mumbai to find an answer. It says that Gandhi has “found the fire in his belly” ahead of the Lok Sabha polls”, but it has “come too late to swing this year’s result.”

It elaborates on the “3 urgent challenges” which are within his purview and that he needs to confront for Congress’ “pathway back to national power.” Gandhi has a personal challenge as well, the article describes.

The idea that “Gandhis become prime ministers” has left the fourth generation scion in a “limbo”. Some party insiders worry that he is “neither fully in control of Congress nor willing to let others take charge,” the article reads. “If Congress is to reverse its decline in the years ahead, Mr Gandhi will have to make a choice: step up or step aside.”

In a conversation between Foreign Policy executive editor Amelia Lester and executive editor Ravi Agrawal, India’s emerging trends come into focus as the country prepares for elections.

Agrawal calls India a classic example of how the world is moving towards “illiberal democracies” and how the rise of “New India” or a transforming Indian democracy is not top-down.

It is not imposed by PM Modi or the ruling BJP, he says, adding that the government policies are popular — and that there is a demand for it.

Taking questions from readers, Agrawal points out that the Indian political scenario has been unable to present “an opposition” at the national level and although “alternatives are good”, there is a “supply problem” and Indians do not have a lot of choice. He calls Rahul Gandhi a “reluctant leader”.

A piece in Bloomberg focuses on India’s electricity consumption as the world’s fastest-growing major economy looks for cleaner energy sources.

India’s plan to shift towards green energy is something the government is unable to keep up with, it says. “It is still a long way away.” With coal still at the centre of India’s electricity generation and the decision to extend the life of coal plants, India might find itself in a fix with the global community and adverse pollution levels, it says. “India’s domestic needs take precedence over climate action.”

In its opinion piece, Nikkie Asia discusses the probability of the Indian economy taking over that of China. Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at investment bank Natixis, suggests that the pace at which the Indian economy is growing, having overtaken the economies of UK, France, Italy and Brazil, it is on track to converge with the size of China’s in the coming decades.

But this comes with a rider. “Complacency about reform and openness will be just as problematic for New Delhi as it is now for Beijing,” it asserts.

Singapore politics & Russian economy

In a major shift in political leadership in the country, Singapore is set to get a new premier  — only the second PM outside of the founding family post independence. Lee Hsien Loong is stepping down to give way to his deputy Lawrence Wong. To know more about its significance, read Time’s report.

In spite of global sanctions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted the Russian economy to grow faster than other advanced nations. Smooth oil exports and increased private consumption will lead to this growth, says the BBC.

(Edited by Tony Rai)