Pre-election freebies speech as well a Budget speech

- Aurobindo Ghose Today he was different. Sounding concilitiary and compensatory. Atoning for the unsaid sins of Demonetisation. Seemed to be very much on the back foot. The barbs against the Opposition were less sharp and not so conspicuous. This was both a pre-election freebies speech as well a Budget speech, partially pre-empting Arun Jaitley two months ahead ! When in difficult times, the business strategy is not one of optimising gains, but of cutting down and minimizing losses. This seemed to be the tone and tenor of a humbler-looking PM this evening.