The battle lines are drawn for the gladiatorial fight on the electoral playground of Gujarat. Though the battle of the ballot will also take place in Himachal Pradesh earlier, the land of Mahatma Gandhi and of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, notwithstanding that it was also the political breeding ground of current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Each in his own way, has made Gujarat a vital force in the political mainstream of the country. However, it was the coming of Narendra Modi that created waves in the state for both notoriety and the so-called “Gujarat model” of progress. It obviously created ambition for the once ‘chaiwalla’, as Modi is prone to call himself with his full-blown 56-inch chest.
Today, Modi sits on the highest elective chair and commands both awe and hatred. His victory was phenomenal, and almost wiped out the Congress and its allies. He captured the imagination of the young voters and as well as those who got tired with the shenaginans and scams of the Congress. It thought the Congress a lesson in being too cocky. No doubt the BJP, with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had dented the Congress monopoly earlier to Modi getting catapulted from Gujarat to Delhi.
The run to victory under the tantalising rallying cry, Abki Baar, Modi Sarkar (This Time, Modi Goverment), brought rich dividends at the polls. As usual, there were promises galore. But almost four years into his term, all the promises haven’t been delivered. The economy has shuddered following the biggest folly of demonetisation. It took lot of critical views and analyses by experts and also the admission of RBI that the much-acclaimed economic progress was hollow. It was too late and too timid for the government to admit the fact that the economy was suffering.
Besides the economic slowdown or rather stagnancy, as who and what one believes, there are other factors that give the government bad marks. The slogan, Saab Ke Saat, Saab Ka Vikas rings hollow. The recent story of Modi’s own state having over a lakh of children in anganwadis (mother and child care centres) suffering from mulnutrition is a shame. It’s a poor reflection of the “Gujarat model of development” that Modi was proud to have ushered during his reign as CM.
Forget the economic side of the equation, the Modi government has earned global humiliation for losing its moral equilibrium. The nation has seen the rise of the far-right to such an extent that there’s a pervasive fear in the non-Hindu population. Fighting terrorism is one thing, but the deeds and actions of groups belonging to the Sangh Parivar has raised the indignation of the minorities.
The fabric of the nation is shredded. Democracy is being chipped each passing day with acts of high-handedness. Those who oppose the tactics of the BJP hotheads are branded anti-nationalism. No wonder the Supreme Court came down heavily in saying that patriotism is not something that one wears on one’s sleeve.
In this context, it’s necessary to point out that Vladimir Putin came back to power thumping nationalism. Likewise with Donald Trump who spoke of nationalism in a different flavour, such as “Make America Great Again”, during his presidential campaign. Trump played to the raging fires of white America and those who hate immigrants. No wonder that American democracy is facing stiff challenges under Trump who rides roughshod on those who point out defects in his governance. As much as he hates certain media which speak the truth to him, so is Modi.
Modi has shifted the goalposts, and has set his sights on 2022 to realise his new dream of “New India”. Politicians are known to create false hopes, a chimera. The game plan is to woo voters once again with his pie-in-the-sky gimmick. Unfortunately, Indian voters have largely failed to understand the beguiling ways of some leaders. Voters must look at the character and history of the politician to make a wise judgement. Falling for rhetoric, instead of pushing the politicians for concrete answers or plans, should be avoided.
Gujarat will no doubt be the testing ground for the new-found vigour and drive in Rahul Gandhi. Seems he has shed his “pappu” image and has won the gown of a Aikido warrior. A fighting-fit Rahul appears rejuvenated and gives back as much as he takes. In this run-up to both the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, Rahul and Modi are trading repartees. The gloves are off. Interestingly, the BJP wants the people to believe that Trump was inspired by Modi’s victory, and so the party hopes to do a Trump by upsetting the incumbent Congress led by Virbhadra Singh in HP. Will BJP’s Prem Kumar Dhumal return to the CM’s post is a 100-crore question. The voters will decide today.
Coining slogans is easy, but delivering on the promises is hard. Take for example, Modi’s other I-Day slogan, Bharat Jodo (Unify India), which doesn’t seem relevant in the current communal mayhem taking place in the country. With the overall aim of the BJP to make India a Hindu Rashtra, what’s the point in driving this message to the people? It flies against the actions and directives of the party. Will Goans believe in such vote-grabbing ruse?
(Eugene Correia is a senior journalist who worked for The Hindu and The Free Press Journal).
