Those sitting in Delhi can’t predict what will happen in the 2014 lok Sabha elections because they are far removed from the ground reality
At a recent do in Delhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi talked for nearly two-and-a-half hours. There is no doubt that Modi is a great orator and when he speaks he has the full attention of his audiences. This is because people want to hear every word he has to say. It is immaterial whether they agree with him or not.
Today, Modi has emerged as a very confident leader. His body language shows that success may have made him a bit arrogant. The way he addresses public meetings gives the impression that he may have a bigger role to play in the future in Delhi’s power corridors. However, his developmental programmes in Gujarat are on similar lines. Even his style does not change. His expressions and hand movements reminds many of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
It very amusing when the Congress and regional parties claim that the development that Modi keeps talking about is just talk and that no work has been done in the State. I wonder why these parties don’t prove that Modi is lying by calling his bluffIJ What is stopping themIJ Modi says he doesn’t need to prove his innocence in the Godra riots.
I would in a way agree with him after all the public of Gujarat has voted for him time and again. He also carries the BJP banner single-handedly in the State. There are many in his party who may not like him can’t deny that he has a charisma.
His three consecutive win in Gujarat has made his larger than life. If the general opinion was that Modi was to be blamed for everything bad why would the people in his State want to vote him back to power and that to with such thumping majority. If the Congress thought that he was not a fit Chief Minister why did they not field a candidate just as powerful and popular as Modi isIJ What is stopping the Congress from doing all that it saysIJ
Why does the Congress not contradict Modi every time he talks of the developmental work that he has done in the State. Why does the Congress not prepare a report on all the work that Modi talks and prove that is is false.
The 2014 General Election is going to be tough going for all political parties. It could end up with the formation of the Third Front. Of course, there is no Chandra Shekhar now but there is a Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Then there is Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and many other regional party leaders who are growing in strength. In such a scenario, the two major national parties will need a strategy that will help them get the required number to rule at the Centre.
The Congress may think that it will come back to power as does the BJP. But one thing needs to be kept in mind — no one, by sitting in Delhi, can predict what will happen. The leaders in Delhi are far removed from what is happening at the grassroots level. But there is no person who appears to know the pulse of the what the common man wants. Modi has Gujarat under his control for the next five years. Therefore, he has set his eyes on Delhi. For this he is quietly meeting State leaders and talks about development. The fact that he makes quick decision is a plus for him. The UPA-II thinks that it has an answer to Modi.
Meanwhile, the public will just have to wait and see which State leader will go with whom.