- It would not amount to exaggeration to state that the whole world was glued to television sets and news portals to know the eventual outcome of the most anticipated election in the world. Yes, the presidential election in the United States of America is always considered one of the most critical events with ramifications being felt around the globe in more than one way. The distinctive features of the US presidential election may appear complex for the uninitiated, but those acutely aware of the nitty-gritty would be wondering how unpredictable it is to gauge the mood of the people when it comes to the matter of voting and choosing. Yes, psephologists are increasingly under pressure for repeatedly failing to nail their predictions.
PC: Washington Post
- Do not look far away from what happened in the Indian parliamentary elections and the subsequent state assembly elections when the pundits were left with red faces for failing to predict the outcome. Notably, the most keenly watched election too did not go to the wire as predicted by the poll pundits. The results suggest how the Republican president-elect Donald Trump not only won the traditional pocket boroughs comfortably but also triumphed over some of the swing states leading to a decisive victory margin. In doing so, Trump became only the second president to win a non-consecutive election to the most powerful office in the world. The moot point to ponder over is how Trump’s win augurs for India. Let’s dwelve more to comprehend this.
- People closely following the fortunes of India-USA bilateral relationships over the last few years would have noticed the strategic alliance has gained strength substantially irrespective of the leaderships from both ends. India can no longer be classified as an insignificant global player simply because of the market size and the growing economic heft on the back of decisive measures initiated by the incumbent union government at the Centre. India has indeed grown exponentially, and the most advanced nations would not be blinded to this fact anymore. Not for nothing India is sitting pretty as the fifth-largest economy in the world aiming to move up in the coming years. The aspirational society is finding itself noticed by the global powers-that-be. It’s time they do.
PC: The Hindu Business
- Moreover, the highly unpredictable and mercurial character of Donald Trump counts Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a close friend with both leaders having built up great rapport during the former’s first stint as the US president. Of course, Trump will be introducing a slew of economic measures aimed at protecting local interests including jobs as well as tariffs as promised during the electioneering. The war cry Make America Great Again (MAGA) will resonate greatly in the next few years, and the global community better watch for it. Of course, Indian leadership will expect better traction, cohesiveness, strategic strengthening, and collaborations in crucial sectors like the defence, space, and some such cutting-edge technologies.
