Edition 49
Today is the last day of the mega election in World’s largest democracy – India. This evening the news channels will all have exit polls and predictions for the results on Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, it would be clear on how the country has voted and who has the mandate. The process of government formation will start rolling.
By next Saturday, when the 50th edition of this column will be up – we would either have a date for the new government to be sworn in or already have a new government in place. The last 10 years have seen tremendous growth in domestic aviation in India and the next 10 could see a similar growth on the international side. A lot of bold and ambitious targets like operationalizing 100 new airports by 2024 and operationalising water aerodromes may be missed even with half the year ahead of us.
Since 2014, the government has seen multiple Civil Aviation Ministers. It started with the portfolio being handed over to an ally TDP – till it withdrew the support. TDP and BJP are in alliance again. Suresh Prabhu – was then made the minister. In the second term, the mantle was handed over to former diplomat Hardeep Singh Puri as MoS (Independent Charge), until in the rejig it was handed over to current minister who was in the Congress Party before joining the ruling BJP.
Who will be the next Civil Aviation minister and what will be the challenges? Even in case of continuity, a government starts with a clean slate and a new momentum and a new plan. How will the next five years be and where will India be in that time frame?
Let’s wait for a week!
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