Mistakes Modi and Rahul could make after the polls, but should not

the norm till politics post-2014 made them the exception marking a phase of unprecedented vitriol between the BJP and the Congress.

Both parties need to understand that arrogance has no place in Indian politics and hubris will extract a cost. Because it won the largest popular mandate of any single party in 30 years, the BJP allowed victory to go its head. The belief in one’s own absolute power is lethal in a democracy. There has been a peculiar environment of fear — one in which bureaucrats, journalists, corporate chieftains and even other members of the BJP have hesitated to function normally and openly. At some point, there will be a backlash to this and we are seeing its beginnings. The Congress needs to internalise that lesson as well. Rahul Gandhi alluded to it in his press conference where he sounded the right note of humility. That should stay whether or not political fortunes change. The Congress has especially had to contend with the label of elitism and privilege. Modesty would be its best instrument. And finally, both parties should understand and accept the place of robust news media in a healthy democracy. That some prominent pro-government journalists are beginning to hedge their bets signals the problem with media partisanship to begin with. It’s much better to accept and engage with those you find tougher to slot in either camp. At least they won’t change with the wind.

Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author The views expressed are personal

SONU MEHTA/HT PHOTO The Congress will be tempted to see itself as the natural leader of the anti-bjp coalition after wresting three states in the heartland from the BJP. At this stage, this claim, while understandable, would only be counterproductive