BJP shaken: What Modi could do now

What might Narendra Modi do now?  This is the question that is on the mind of all political commentators.

The Congress has put up an unexpectedly good show in Madhya Pradesh.  In Rajasthan, too, it has done better than BJP. And Chattisgarh has been a nightmare for BJP this time. The Congress is leading by 10 percent vote share in this State.

Rural discontent is now obvious.  The Prime Minister has no option but to address the concerns of farmers on an urgent basis if he has to stand a chance of being in the race in 2019.

Here are a few options that Modi could try:

Announce increases in Minimum Support Prices of main crops to help the distressed farmers.

Improve the pace of Central schemes like Awas Yojana (Housing), Soubhagya (Electrification), Ayushman Bharat (Health Insurance), etc.

Impress upon the RBI to reduce repo rates to boost credit supply so that small businesses can heave a sigh of relief.