Vrindavan Today | By Brij Khandelwal
August 28, 2026, Agra: In politics, change is necessary. But every change does not necessarily bring improvement. Sometimes, when a system has achieved a measure of stability despite many challenges, changing it suddenly can itself become a serious risk.
India’s political journey since 2014 raises precisely this question: Should continuity be abandoned simply because change sounds attractive?
The biggest strength of the period since 2014 has been political stability. Governments have completed their terms and policies have been given time to produce results. The uncertainty of frequent changes in government and policies has been relatively less.
Continuity has one major advantage: it allows a policy to mature. If every new government starts by erasing the previous government’s work and drawing a fresh line, the country may spend more time in files than in progress.
In a vast and diverse country like India, relations between the Centre and the states are extremely important. During the past twelve years, there have certainly been arguments and accusations about Centre-state relations. But President’s Rule has not become a routine political weapon.
Constitutional institutions have also played their part. Parliament, the judiciary, the election machinery and democratic institutions from the states to the panchayats have continued to function.
There have been disagreements, protests and street movements. Yet the democratic wheel has continued to turn.
Democracy does not mean agreeing with the government. Democracy means that the system continues to function even when people disagree.
The past twelve years have certainly not been a bed of roses. India faced terrorist attacks, citizen movements and sharp political confrontation. Parliament witnessed disruptions, while political rhetoric often crossed the limits of civility.
Yet the system did not collapse. Opposition remained opposition and governance continued. Protests took place, but the country moved on.
That is the resilience of a system.
Democracy is not an electric fan that starts running at the flick of a switch. It needs institutions, traditions and public confidence to keep functioning.
India’s Changing Global Image
India’s position on the world stage has also changed. Confidence in Brand India has grown. Indians living abroad have made their presence felt through significant contributions to local economies and societies.
Amid pressure from major powers, India has increasingly tried to put its own interests first. Whether dealing with the United States, Russia or other powers, India has sought to keep its options open rather than become a camp follower.
In a multipolar world, that is strategic autonomy.
Sometimes friendship, sometimes distance and sometimes a firm word; that is the art of diplomacy.
The economy continues to face challenges. Exports are under pressure, global markets remain uncertain, and questions about employment and inflation persist.
Yet the Indian economy has shown the ability to absorb shocks.
Efforts to make business easier, promote entrepreneurship and create opportunities for new entrepreneurs are beginning to show results.
The aspirations of millions of young Indians are also moving beyond conventional jobs towards business and start-ups.
An economy needs confidence and stability above everything else.
Businesses do not want policies made today to be thrown into the dustbin tomorrow because of a new political experiment.
This Does Not Mean Everything Is Perfect.
Arguing for continuity does not mean that the government should be beyond questioning.
Criticism is essential in a democracy. Wrong policies must be questioned, and reforms must be made wherever necessary.
No government is infallible. Mistakes happen, and decisions must be debated.
But there is a difference between criticism and chaos.
India needs a strong opposition as much as it needs an accountable government. But changing a government merely for the sake of changing it cannot be called a policy.
In politics, some people appear every five years selling old wine in a new bottle. Others want to turn the entire system upside down.
Let the lizards climb the walls, the cockroaches scurry around and the frogs croak in the pond. The country still has to move forward.
Change is the beauty of democracy. But change itself is not an achievement. The real question is whether a change will make the country stronger or weaker.
After twelve years, no system can claim perfection. But if institutions are functioning, elections are being held, governments are operating within constitutional boundaries, the economy is absorbing shocks and India’s voice is being heard more clearly in the world, why put everything at risk overnight?
Continuity Does Not Mean Stagnation, says public commentator Prof Paras Nath choudhary. The case for continuing with the present dispensation is not about blind loyalty to any political party. It is a question of pragmatic thinking.
Continuity does not mean giving the government a free hand. It means building on what has worked, correcting what has failed and improving what needs improvement.
Building a country is not a five-year project. It is the work of generations.
Institutions and policies take years to build, but they can be weakened much faster.
So the question is not only “Who will come?”
The bigger question is: “Who will preserve and strengthen what has already been built?”
Before turning India into a political laboratory, we must ask who will pay the price if the experiment goes wrong.
Protecting stability is not the same as resisting change. Sometimes the wisest change is to improve the system without needlessly replacing it.
