After the parliamentary election, the government seems to be still politically pursuing the Congress, the main Opposition party, and the attack is being led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. President Ram Nath Kovind opened the post-poll Parliament session with an address to a joint sitting of both Houses where the government’s aims and achievements were spelt out, as is customary. In both Houses, the PM’s reply to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President appeared to belong to the world of political war, rather than governance.

Mr Modi could have expanded on his government's concept of “New India”, a little understood term, especially when agriculture, industry and commerce are genuinely suffering, and unemployment seems at an all-time high.

The long 109-paragraph presidential address had flagged “New India” by enumerating schemes started in the past five years, though most have failed except in the area of governmental publicity. The PM could have concretely explained the concept which, according to the President's address, was the building of a “strong, safe, prosperous and all-inclusive” New India. We don’t know how this is different from the objectives of any previous government.

However, Mr Modi chose to dwell almost exclusively on the Congress. He said the party had lost touch with ground realities, and that its leaders should enjoy life while being out on bail — almost suggesting this may not be for long, though this is in the judicial domain. In a move of shocking discourtesy, former PM Manmohan Singh’s office staff has been drastically cut. A “New India” in a new Parliament might have had a more hopeful start.