New Indian govt needs inclusive policies to boost economy

The campaign for the Indian national elections, whose results were declared on Thursday, took voters through bitter, unwanted political and sometimes dirty apolitical debates. The right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance was re-elected to power, yet the BJP won just one of the four provincial elections which were held simultaneously. The fact that regional political parties held sway in three of the provinces is something unique about Indian elections, especially because their victories were against the national mandate.

If the BJP's victory in the 2014 national elections was a mandate for change, its second victory places much bigger responsibilities on the new government: to continue reforms, which the earlier government introduced, and develop non-partisan and inclusive political culture in the country.

Since national and local aspirations vary a lot, the new government needs to address all questions and doubts which were raised during the election campaign. If the NDA stands for inclusive growth for all sections and classes, as it claims, it has to prove that with its policies and performance.