Real issues have been hijacked by mindless ‘puppy' and ‘burqa' debates reducing the political battle to a Modi-centric contest
Gone are the days of contesting elections on socio-political issues, communalism or cartelism. Today, political parties are moving towards personality-based politics and the 2014 lok Sabha poll might just turn out to be a ‘Modi versus the rest’ contest. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘persona’ is so overwhelming that most political agendas are now revolving around his routinely-made controversial statements. Within weeks of his appointment as the BJP’s National Election Campaign Committee chief, the political battle has turned into a robust Modi-centric contest.
Mr Modi thinks that the sharp attacks against him would improve his position, both within the BJP and outside. He has partially achieved what he wanted as the BJP spokespersons are busy defending his statements, while the Congress is busy examining them with microscopic precision. The war of words between the Congress and Mr Modi is becoming louder and boisterous, but the debate is going nowhere as the real issues have been forgotten by the two national parties. This could well put off the voters when the time comes to choose.
So what is Mr Modi’s game planIJ As a senior BJP leader pointed out he has to sustain the campaign for the next eight months and create a favourable atmosphere. In his rush to occupy centre stage Mr Modi commenced his campaign much too early. His recent statements are designed to polarise the pro-Hindutva vote to counter his rivals attempting to consolidate the minority vote against him, thus making it a communal versus secular debate.
Mr Modi has already provided a direction to the poll campaign amidst reports that Ram mandir will become a poll issue with the blessings of the RSS. He is also talking of development, thereby, confusing his core voters about what he stands for. So far, in his familiar strident style, he has indulged in Congress-bashing, talking about terrorism, Pakistan beheading Indian soldiers, policy paralysis in the UPA, price-rise, the dynastic rule and also about secularism as practised by the Congress. His calculated response in a recent interview that he is a Hindu nationalist is also meant to polarise the voter. He may become more high-pitched in times to come.
However, not the entire party is behind Mr Modi. Some BJP leaders feel that he is ignoring seniors and the issues are getting blunted. It was party veteran lK Advani who feared that if Mr Modi was made the campaign chief, the real issues would be lost, as it would become a ‘secularism versus communalism’ debate. Mr Advani stands vindicated. Another BJP leader Yashwant Sinha points out that the more Mr Modi speaks the more controversy he will create, with the result serious issues like price-rise and economy will not get debated.
There is also a growing impression that the campaign is getting too personalised. Mr Modi has been hogging all the attention leaving little space for other seniors, including party chief Rajnath Singh. There is apprehension that the anti-Modi polarisation will help the Congress in the months leading up to the general election, even as both parties scout around for new allies.
Interestingly, the Congress sees the Gujarat Chief Minister’s ‘projection’ as a real godsend. It seems to have given the scam-hit Congress a new focus. Some Congressmen privately admit that the party, groping for issues, can now convert the electoral battle into a ‘communalism versus secularism’ one, with Mr Modi at the centre stage. No longer on the backfoot, a delighted Congress sees Modi-bashing as an opportunity to garner minority votes. The party’s backroom boys are working overtime to devise a strategy to take on the redoubtable Mr Modi.
This brings us to the moot question: Should the Congress and the BJP be trading barbs rather than thrashing out the real issuesIJ Should they indulge in a negative campaign or focus on issues affecting the peopleIJ Are the voters really concerned about the “puppy” or “burqa” remarks when they are unable to get jobs or eat two meals a dayIJ
Mr Modi is walking on a razor’s edge. He received a standing ovation when he spoke to students of Delhi University’s Shriram College of Commerce about harnessing youth energy, entrepreneurship and development. But now he is moving towards divisive politics which may well boomerang. He may win some verbal duels but lose the ultimate war.