The 2019 general elections are still a while away. But the talk of whom to vote has already started — at least on social media. And many who voted for Narendra Modi and the BJP in 2014 are starting to have doubts. The disappointment of Modi not having met expectations is leading some to get disillusioned and some others to get alarmed. Some have started to ponder about using the “NOTA” option. Few others are talking about staying away from it all completely.

What we do in 2019 must perhaps be the most through decision ever in the history of this country. Here is my take on the choices in front of us.

We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime that will pass an Education Tribunal Bill and convert our schools and colleges into legal battlegrounds — but because there is still hope that Modi is banking on obtaining a sustained majority from the current transient majority to amend the Constitution to grant equal Educational rights to all citizens.

We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime that will likely expand the scope of RTE to classes 8 to 12 or even higher — but because there is still hope that Modi will realize the criticality of the Education sector — and sack both — the RTE Act as well his General in charge of Education — and usher in reforms- while there is still time before the “IOI transformation project” is complete.

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We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime that will renew its loot of our country’s vast natural resources and engage in open corruption — but because there is hope that the personal example of corruption-free governance that Modi has set 2014 onwards will trickle down the various layers of governance, resulting in a much less corrupt administration and much improved delivery.

We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime where International relations is treated with contempt where our foreign minister does not even know which country’s speech he is reading at the UN — but because there is hope that the personal relationship that Modi has built with various International leaders will go further and pay-off in terms of even better ties with various countries on issues such as defence, economic co-operation and cultural tie-ups.

We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime that will encourage free-loading culture amongst its citizens and pay them for doing nothing, or for doing nothing of value (like digging lake beds and refilling them again) — but because there is hope that the various genuine initiatives that Modi has taken, like MUDRA and Make-in-India, will take off leading to lakhs of new jobs and opportunities being created.

We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime that will enact the Communal Violence Bill and ensure complete polarization of our society on religious grounds — but because there is hope that Modi will realize that the real need of this nation is uniformity of law & equal treatment of all citizens and repeal communal bodies like the MoMA, NCM and NCMEI.

We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime that will sit back and smile when its cadres roam on the streets with the severed head of a cow in their hands — but because there is hope that Modi will complete the project of sealing off our porous international borders and end illegal cattle trading so our go-matas can be much more safer.

We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime that will run a parallel government through the high priests of the Judiciary systematically eliminating every one of our religious and cultural practices — but because there is hope that Modi will win the tug-of-war with the judiciary and restore the sanctity of the top most institutions of legislature, executive and judiciary as also their separation of powers.

We must vote Modi not just because we cannot afford to go back to a regime that will teach our kids the kind heartedness of Aurangzeb or the patriotism of Tipu — but because there is hope that Modi will encourage and strengthen the hands of more like Yogi Adityanath so that we move beyond celebrating laksha-deepotsavs to realizing our dream of a Rama Mandir at Ayodhya.

We must vote Modi not just because Rahul Gandhi is not a choice — but because there is still faith in Narendra Modi!