MMA-KAS Virtual Conference Covid-19 - Impact on Indian Politics on 3rd May 2020

Key Takeaways of the Discussion:

•    The Covid-19 crisis will undoubtedly leave its footprints on the world politics. The influence of US and the Europe on the geo-political scenario will further diminish.

•    Germany’s initial response to the crisis was slow. That has changed and now Germany is actively reaching out to other nations, sending testing kits, medical supplies, treating hundreds of foreign patients in Germany and airlifting more than 22,000 Italians to French ICUs. 

•    Germany spends about 11.5% of its GDP on health care while India spends around 1%.  Thanks to the impact of Covid-19 on Indian politics, the level of contributions to the healthcare system in Indiamay now be increased,so as to strengthen it.

•    The pressure to lift the lockdown and other restrictions is increasing worldwide. Protests in the form of citizens claiming constitutional freedom are increasing. However, Indians and Germans have been rather disciplined.  

•    The tougher the lockdown measures are and the longer they last, the more the governments need to explain to their citizens what they do and why they do them. 

•    China was by far the biggest victim of the new corona virus and its government covered up the initial outbreak. Now China is trying to paint a new picture of itself as a model for taming the disease and as the world’s saviour. 

•    The Indian political situation cannot be discussed in isolation because we are living in a globalised world.Each country depends on other countries.

•    The Indian political situation has to be analyzed in three periods: the pre-Covid phase, the present Covid-19 management phase and the post Covid phase. 

•    In India, the entire country is united in its fight against the covid-19 and abides by the rules and directions given by the Government of India and the respective States. This is a unique political development, thanks to Covid-19 management. 

•    Lockdowns should not lead to authoritarian governments at the Centre and States. The civil rights, political rights and even the fundamental rights are being infringed upon because of the pandemic situation. 

•    As lockdowns cannot continue for long, each State has to focus on self-sustainability through sustainable development. More attention needs to be given for agriculture and rural development.  

•    The way communication happens from the State and Central leadership and the decisions taken now will either reinforce or derail the faith and trust, people have in their leaders. 

•    The crisis will change people's expectations of politics as opposed to governance. The learnedness of politicians will assume importance. .

•    The speed at and nature in which leaders react are going to change after this crisis. 

•    The notion of centralized versus distributed models of governance is going to become starker.  It's important that the center of gravity of power migrates a little more from the Centre to the States and from the States to the local bodies.

•    The German Constitution talks of federalism. It talks of the basic principle of subsidiarity which says what can be done at the State should not be attempted at the Central. That is how the German model worked even in the Covid case and much better than anywhere else in Europe. 

•    There is no chance that we can mathematically escape recession. We may have contraction of growth this year.  

•    In politics, we need constantly changing blood. We need more educated people who should be driven by compassion and wanting to make a difference. 

•    Migrant labourers and returning NRIs pose a serious challengeand more so, for states like Kerala. 

•    Last year's remittance in Kerala alone from NRIs was more than 1 lakh crores of rupees.  We have to think about how to rehabilitate the returning NRIs.  

•    The migrant labourissue is coloured with a lot of cultural aspects. If all the States start really valuing the people who migrated from other states into their states, then it can be a very important and positive by-product of the Covid crisis.  

•    The image of the honourable Prime Minister has improved and political differences have disappeared, especially in the Covid management. He has made an impression that everything is being managed. 

•    Unfortunately, the state governments are suffering for want of funds. Even the GST dues to the States are pending.  We need to have devolution of power to the place where it can help. 

•    The major political issue which will bediscussed in the next election is how the Covid-19 is managed.  

•    Inease of doing business, India's position in the global scenario has improved.But two main issues remain- unemployment and poverty which the government has to address on priority. 

•    India is mainly focusing on the GDP growth rate and FDI.  Without addressing the two issues of unemployment and poverty, any investment that comes in, may not be able to do wonders for the country.