India’s 14th and current Prime Minister – Narendra Damodardas Modi – is the most formidable premier in history, since Jawaharlal Nehru. One could suggest that Indira Gandhi too enjoyed influence and popularity like her father, but there are more common characteristics between the reigns of Nehru & Modi. Notably, the significant uncertainty is about the successor to the PM. Like in the past, when the most common question asked was – “After Nehru Who?”

Indira Gandhi was never a successor to her father, Jawaharlal Nehru. There has been no clear indication that Nehru wanted his daughter to become the PM, either. Be that as it may. One can call it ‘Niyati’.

Today, PM Modi is a leader like no other. He may not be sophisticated like Nehru or Indira, yet he commands respect or fear like no other politician. Not many might be aware, but for Modi, his more incredible troubles have always come from within. The party echelons – RSS nominees, within the government have caused him more pain than the entire opposition.

In 2019, RSS had even planned a sort of a coup. Nobody expected BJP to come to power with a clear majority. RSS leaders were quietly optimistic that the party would fall, at least 20 seats short of the majority. Their idea was to back their favorite candidate Nitin Gadkari under such circumstances, as the PM candidate, who would then seek the backing of Shiv Sena and NCP MPs, to attain a majority in the house. You only need to watch Gadkari’s series of television interviews during the 2019 elections to confirm this fact. When the election results were out, fearful of the consequences, Gadkari’s first appearance was at the release of Vivek Oberoi’s biopic of Modi.

Such challenges to the Modi were always from within the party, albeit unknown to a great many. What saved him was the abject and mindless hatred hurled by the opposition. Hence, it may not be unwise to conclude that Modi could be defeated, but only from within. Yet, none of the coups have succeeded till this date.

Here are the two principal reasons what makes Modi tick:

1. His image as a “clean” and an “incorruptible” politician
2. His decisive and fearless leadership (Demonetization and Surgical Strikes.)

Unless these two perceptions of his personality, among the masses, are proven otherwise, his unseating is next to impossible. It is not that the opposition has not tried; just that they have only taken the most predictable approach and often with half measures.

Against the conventional belief, Modi is not nearly as intelligent as his Bhakts might presume. His understanding of Vedic scripture is abysmal. There is no indication of the fact that he even understands the fundamentals of economy. His choice for critical positions such as Finance Minister and Economic Advisors says it all. Given that the catastrophe triggered by the pandemic is only beginning to unveil, the opposition has a fighting chance to unseat him, now more than ever.

The first and foremost thing needed to take down Modi is the resurgence of Indian National Congress. Congress is the only party capable of leading, in a post-Modi era – like it or hate it. Their greatest curse is the Gandhi family. Modi has done well to ensure that the Gandhi family is at the party’s helm while ensuring the exit of their charismatic leaders. While people may argue, that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headed by Arvind Kejriwal or Trinamool Congress (TMC) headed by Mamata Banerjee could put “a strong fight,” but only Congress has the actual ability to take on the might of Modi-led BJP.

Considering that Congress has got rid of the Gandhi family; the next step would be to hold democratic elections, to choose deserving young leaders, to deliver the party from over a decade long mess. The old guard here, must take the position of mentorship, instead of active control. Having achieved a young and vibrant leadership, they will need a solid plan to salvage the economic loss and put the nation on the path to resurgence. With multiple leaders, young, energetic, and educated – embracing all faiths – they must also sympathize and apologize to their Hindu electorate, whom they had let down for decades, for “minority appeasement.” It could be a good idea to reinstate the first logo/symbol of the party – cow and its calf – by letting go of its “hand.”

With a renewed outlook, the party must also offer invitations, to the party leaders who were forced to move away, by the cronies of the Gandhi family. Should they achieve this, BJP’s fortune will begin to decline faster than anyone’s imagination. Of course, neither BJP nor RSS will take these things hands down. To counter any threats from the BJP or the RSS – Congress will need to hit them where it hurts the most – finances.

RSS has maintained a charade of a “voluntary services organization” for a long time. They even claim to have no bank account. Yet, the RSS Pracharks have been running trusts and profitable businesses for decades, while siphoning off their profits to their family and friends in secret. Exposing these financial irregularities and their masterminds, will effortlessly disconnect the RSS from its honest, sincere, nationalist supporters. BJP-RSS will be forced to go on the defensive, with their house finances in total disarray. As in the past, they will prefer to seek a compromise with Congress. Such compromise arrangements, have been happening for a long time in Karnataka – a state where the RSS has multi-million trusts and companies, for over four decades. In the nation’s greater interest, Congress should accept. After all, it is not much different from the undeclared arrangement between the Modi and Gandhi family, today.

All the opposition parties, have so far failed to understand the structure and funding of the BJP-RSS. No political party or organization with an eye for political power, can survive without money. Take away their money, and any political party or organization, will fall like a pack of cards.

Of course, these are but brief outlines. And achieving it, will take an effective plan and even complex execution. There is no single leader capable of achieving this, all alone. Here, the Kootaneeti can come in handy. If some senior Congress leaders chose to stay, behind the scenes and play a shadow game, with a clear focus to dethrone Modi and the BJP-RSS, the efforts would be much more productive.

A leader whose sole objective is to assume power, always is a leader destined for disaster. Modi is fast appearing to be such a leader. Moha, or infatuation, for power often leads to doom. Chanakya had once said that “There are only two ends to power, namely: either we relinquish power, or the power relinquishes us. When we relinquish power, we get liberated; but when power relinquishes us, we get desecrated!”

Modi is fast approaching 75, and it is in his best interest to retire and take the role of a Rajaguru to harness many extraordinary leaders. While Modi has done an excellent job leading this country in comparison to his predecessors, I do not consider him a great leader. His inability to appreciate the deserving people in public; and his appointment of incompetent and substandard individuals to be his subordinates only helps to make him look like a genius, which is no sign of a leader.

In Yoga Vashistha, Vashistha says to Rama, “Rama, you may or may not become the person you love; but you will become the person you hate.” Modi’s contempt for Nehru is apparent. And we cannot but wonder if Modi is turning out to be a Modern Nehru – with vanity and hubris.

Alternatively, if Modi decides to resign and takes on the role of kingmaker, that will be the ultimate blow to his opposition. Therefore, the collapse of Modi will mostly depend on his Karma – his actions and the consequences of his actions. To conclude, defeating Modi may be difficult but never impossible.