Novelist and columnist Shobhaa De on Thursday, 7 May praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "very charismatic leader" while arguing that the Indian National Congress is at its lowest point in credibility and urgently needs re-grooming and a clear policy direction. Speaking to IANS in Mumbai, De offered a candid assessment of India's political landscape — lauding the ruling establishment's organisational machinery while flagging what she sees as a leadership vacuum in the Opposition.

De on PM Modi and BJP's Ground-Level Strength

De was measured in her praise of the Prime Minister, drawing a distinction between individual charisma and systemic governance. "You can't call it the magic of just one man. He's a very charismatic leader, and no one can take that away from him. But a country of our size cannot depend solely on the magic of any one man. It has to be something much more solid that inspires confidence among citizens. They have a very powerful system at the ground level," she said.

She further noted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) benefits from a cohesive and competent team. "It takes a lot of planning to win elections. Their IT team is very strong, and they seem to understand the psychology of voters. They do not take voters for granted. They work systematically towards achieving their goals," De added.

Her Take on the INDIA Alliance

De was sceptical about the effectiveness of the INDIA bloc as a credible counter to single-party dominance. "Whether the INDIA alliance is a good idea or not, I don't think it is. We need a powerful Opposition to balance the one-party rule," she said. She did, however, single out West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a potentially effective Leader of the Opposition, suggesting she "could perform that role very effectively" if given the platform.

Congress at Its Lowest — De's Diagnosis

The sharpest part of De's commentary was directed at the Congress. She identified leadership as the party's primary failing, followed by the absence of a clearly articulated policy platform. "The Congress needs re-grooming. Every party goes through highs and lows, but right now they are at their lowest point. Their credibility is also at its lowest," she said.

Turning to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, De acknowledged his name recognition across India but questioned its depth. "A lot of people across India may know Rahul Gandhi's name, but they do not know what he stands for. Unless he clearly defines his policies and the party's direction for the next five years, it appears that the party is gradually losing the ground it once held," she argued. She also questioned the substance of Gandhi's reported support to a candidate in Tamil Nadu, describing it as existing "only on paper."

What This Signals for Indian Politics

De's remarks reflect a broader conversation among commentators about the structural imbalance in Indian electoral politics — where one party's organisational depth is seen as increasingly difficult to challenge without a coherent, unified Opposition. Notably, her critique of Congress is not new territory; several political analysts have flagged the party's struggle to translate street-level visibility into electoral credibility. Whether the party can course-correct before the next major electoral cycle remains an open question.