Corporate sector expects reforms to continue, no impact on India-US ties: USISPF`s Mukesh Aghi
Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has said that the American corporate sector expects the economic reforms to continue in the third term of Minister Narendra Modi despite his return to office with a slightly lower majority. He noted that Modi is poised to form the government for a third consecutive term with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) getting a majority in the Lok Sabha, notwithstanding crushing losses in three Hindi heartland states after a bitterly fought election that was projected as a referendum on his popularity. The Election Commission of India has declared results for 542 of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, with the BJP winning 240 seats and the Congress 99.
He said ‘I think the mood is that the prime minister is going to come back with a slightly lower majority but, with a coalition, and the agenda of reform continues, the US-India relationship continues positively, the focus on Quad, I2U2, IMAC will continue.’ He also said he doesn't think that the impact of elections will derail the momentum of corporate investment into India.
He further said ‘in fact, I would see the momentum picking up between the two countries on the issue of Quad because I think Quad so far has been on joint patrols and defence alignment. Now I see the Quad moving more and more into economic security between the four countries, looking at partnership in the critical technology areas itself. I don't think anything will slow down as far as the current, after the current election’. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad, is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the US that is maintained by talks between member countries. He said the elections and the results also enhance Modi's position, given many people were talking about authoritarianism in India.