Vijay Kumar Gaba

If the job crisis is so severe, why is the incumbent government so popular, especially among the youth?

The incumbent prime minister, reportedly, enjoys the highest rating amongst the popular leaders of the world. In particular, he is very popular amongst the youth and women in India.

India faces one of the worst youth unemployment rates globally. Indian homemakers are facing serious challenges in managing their household budgets due to inflation. According to the World Bank, the youth unemployment rate in India could be comparable to war-torn economies like Syria, Yemen, Lebanon etc. The unemployment rate and household inflation have worsened or failed to improve in the past 10 years.

The question thus arises, why is the incumbent government still popular amongst youth and women?

I have discussed this aspect with numerous common people, like myself, nationwide over the past couple of years. My conclusion is as follows:

(a)     Contrary to common perception, the incumbent government is not very popular with the people. It is the Prime Minister who is popular, not his team or the administration. A majority of people defend the prime minister, arguing that he sincerely wants to make life of the people better, but the administration is corrupt and not supporting him fully.

(b)     A majority of the prime minister’s supporters believe that he is a divine incarnation and he could only salvage them from their misery and distress.

(c)     The popularity of the incumbent government and the prime minister is significantly higher in West and North India, as compared to South and East India. He is also relatively less popular in the states where there are strong local leaders.

(d)     The lower middle-class youth is increasingly becoming kind of masochist. They appear to be comfortable with their pain and misery, so long as their neighbors are more miserable and are in deeper pain.

(e)     Above all, the welfare schemes of the government have benefitted poor households. The campaign to promote these schemes is very strong and effective, strengthening the connection between beneficiaries and the prime Minister.

(f)      Overindulgence with social media is making youth delusional.

(g)     Partisan reporting by electronic media has affected the judgment of gullible households to a material extent.

(h)    The lack of a visible opposition leader with a pan-India appeal, and the lack of any competition from within the BJP to the prime minister’s supremacy, are helping the prime