The humid Delhi afternoon hung heavy as Arvind Kejriwal stepped onto the podium. Behind him, the city skyline was barely visible through a toxic haze. Another winter, another pollution crisis, and all eyes were on the Chief Minister. Would he deflect blame to neighboring states again? Or would this time be different?
In India’s chaotic political arena, leaders live perpetually on the edge of PR disasters. With 1.4 billion citizens armed with smartphones and strong opinions, a single misstep can trigger a reputation avalanche. Yet somehow, some politicians transform these potential career-enders into stunning comebacks. Others, meanwhile, sink deeper with each defensive statement.
The Anatomy of a Political Crisis
What separates those who rise from the ashes from those who burn completely? The answer lies not in avoiding crises—they’re inevitable—but in the art of response.
In Indian politics, crisis management isn’t just damage control; it’s opportunity creation, Our voters forgive mistakes but punish dishonesty and inaction.
This reality played out dramatically when Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced perhaps his administration’s greatest test following the 2019 Pulwama attack. With 40 paramilitary personnel dead and a nation mourning, Modi stood at a crossroads of vulnerability.
Within hours, he delivered a televised address that struck the delicate balance between strength and solemnity. Within days, the Balakot airstrikes rewrote the narrative completely. PM Modi’s social media feeds transformed from defense to determination, with #IndiaStrikesBack dominating public discourse.
PM Modi’s handling of Pulwama demonstrates the first rule of crisis management: speed kills rumors. While his critics questioned intelligence failures, Modi was already visiting affected families and projecting resolve. By the time elections arrived months later, the crisis had become his strongest campaign asset.
The Transparency Trap
Contrast this with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s response to the 2024 Kolkata doctor rape-murder case. When protests erupted across West Bengal, Banerjee initially retreated into defensiveness, blaming “outsiders” for unrest and opposition parties for politicizing tragedy.
The streets filled with white lab coats as doctors marched in solidarity. Each day of delayed empathy widened the gap between the Chief Minister and public sentiment. By the time Banerjee pivoted to action—meeting victims’ families and proposing legislation—the narrative had hardened against her.
Banerjee fell into the transparency trap, she thought protecting institutional reputation meant circling the wagons. In reality, transparency isn’t admitting defeat—it’s demonstrating control through honesty.
This lesson wasn’t lost on Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the devastating 2018 floods. Known for his stoic demeanor, Vijayan surprised many by transforming into a consoler-in-chief, wading through floodwaters to reach isolated communities.
His government converted transparency into trust currency, with daily press briefings and real-time social media updates that countered misinformation about rescue delays. When controversy erupted over rejected foreign aid, Vijayan didn’t hide—he clarified Kerala’s approach while acknowledging global solidarity.
Vijayan understood that crisis reveals character. His hands-on approach converted a natural disaster into a testament to Kerala’s resilience. Even political opponents acknowledged his leadership during those weeks.
When Actions Speak Louder
For Delhi’s Kejriwal, the recurring winter pollution crisis presented a different challenge: how to address a chronic problem rather than a sudden catastrophe.
His odd-even vehicle scheme grabbed headlines but divided public opinion. Critics called it symbolic politics; supporters saw bold action in paralyzed system. What ultimately shifted perception was consistency—electric bus fleets, anti-smog guns, and public awareness campaigns demonstrated commitment beyond quick fixes.
Kejriwal’s evolution shows that performative action fails while substantive response endures. Initially, he overemphasized Punjab’s crop burning. Later, he owned Delhi’s contribution to the problem and built credibility through sustained policy innovation.
The Digital Battlefield
What connects these diverse crises is the battlefield where they’re fought: India’s hyperactive digital ecosystem. With hundreds of millions of social media users and the world’s highest data consumption, narratives form at lightning speed.
A politician’s tweet now carries more immediate impact than a parliamentary speech. WhatsApp forwards shape public opinion before official statements reach newsrooms. This acceleration demands crisis responses measured in minutes, not days.
The digital arena has changed crisis management fundamentally. Earlier, politicians had news cycles to craft responses. Now, silence for even hours creates a vacuum filled by speculation and opposition narratives.
Mastering the Moment
What can aspiring leaders learn from these case studies? The formula seems deceptively simple: transparency builds trust; accountability humanizes; action demonstrates commitment. Yet implementing this trifecta under pressure remains the ultimate leadership test.
The most successful crisis managers in Indian politics share one trait: they recognize that public memory centers on how crises end, not how they begin. PM Modi turned national grief into unity through decisive action. Vijayan converted devastation into determination through visible leadership. Even Kejriwal, despite early missteps, reshaped his environmental legacy through persistence.
As India’s democracy grows more vibrant and vocal, the skills of crisis navigation will determine which leaders endure and which disappear. In a nation where heritage spans millennia but political fortunes change overnight, mastering the moment may be the ultimate political superpower.
(Views are personal)
