Is NDA 3.0 flight facing some turbulence right after takeoff?

Modi 3.0 has taken off with high hopes, making sure all NDA allies such as JDU and TDP are on board. However, just days into its journey, the government seems to be facing a series of turbulences. From the NEET exam chaos to escalating violence in Jammu & Kashmir, it's been a bumpy ride for the new government and Narendra Modi who took oath as the Prime Minister for the third straight term on June 9.

Turbulence at NEET-UG 2024

The biggest headache came from the NEET-UG 2024 exam, casting doubts on the government's ability to conduct leak-free exams. Court petitions flagged issues like granting grace marks, allegations of paper leaks, and irregularities at specific exam centres. Students from Odisha and Karnataka opting for an exam centre in Godhra, Gujarat, raised eyebrows about fairness. Adding to the suspicion, six students from Haryana scored perfect marks in consecutive seats — raising questions about the exam's integrity.

Despite the outcry, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan dismissed claims of a leak, asserting there's no evidence. The Supreme Court is now handling the case, and the government vows to uphold fairness. The government has even retracted grace marks for 1,563 candidates, offering them a chance to retake the exam or stick with their original scores.

Security scare in Jammu & Kashmir

Meanwhile, in Jammu & Kashmir, violence surged with three major attacks in Reasi, Kathua, and Doda. The deadliest was on June 9, when terrorists targeted a bus in Reasi, tragically claiming the lives of 9 pilgrims and injuring 42.

System alert

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, speaking in Nagpur, urged respect for the opposition's views in democracy, highlighting issues like Manipur's lingering crisis.

Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde commented that in specific regions, a misleading narrative was spread linking BJP's "400 paar" slogan with intentions to alter the Constitution.

“People kept this in mind and it backfired. Their vehicle could not even cross 300. In several states they got a major setback. In Maharashtra too, Mahayuti did not get the success it was expecting,” said the BJP ally.

RSS-affiliated magazine Organiser criticised BJP's political tactics, especially regarding Ajit Pawar's NCP joining the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition. The move was deemed damaging to BJP's cadre and questioned the party's commitment to its ideology.

Danger from opposition skies

On top of these challenges, the opposition mocked Modi and Shah's forecast of a stock market boom post-election, a prediction that fell short when the NDA failed to achieve the 400-seat target.