It's advantage Narendra Modi all the way

New Delhi: India’s air strike early on Tuesday morning, well into Pakistan territory in reply to the Pulwama attack on Indian jawans earlier this month, could well change the narrative for the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2019 general election.

Reeling under the Rafale controversy, economic slowdown, growing unemployment, the alliance of Opposition parties taking a threatening shape and Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into politics, the BJP had its back to the wall.

Tuesday’s early morning air strike, destroying the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp inside Pakistan, could put the BJP way ahead of others in the run-up to the 2019 parliamentary elections.

Within hours of the strike, an aggressive Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared at a public rally in Churu in Rajasthan: “I promise this that I will not let this country bow down. India is in safe hands.”

The Opposition, which was sharpening its knives to take on the government over the reported “intelligence failure” on the Pulwama terror attack, was not merely stumped but was all praise for the Indian Air Force.

Even as they chose to ignore the PM in their praise, a senior Congress leader pointed out: “No doubt Modi has surged ahead with the air strike.” With the strike, Mr Modi has regained his image as a “strong and decisive” leader. A BJP leader said, “Now you know what the man with 56-inch chest can do.”

BJP president Amit Shah tweeted, “I congratulate and salute the bravery and valour of our armed forces. Today’s action further demonstrates that India is safe and secure under the strong & decisive leadership of PM @narendramodi.”