Election 2014 will go down in history as one in which a population - disenchanted with widespread corruption, a paralysed government and the resulting apathy towards all political parties in the way they played petty politics - was suddenly galvanised into action wherein they took unprecedented interest in participating in the elections. The singular factor that brought about this turn around was the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi. The contest, as we stand at the last phase of the elections, has come to be a face off between him and the rest!
He's indeed come a long way from what he was just a few months back - the chief minister of a state not fully known all over the country except, perhaps, for the ignominy of the Gujarat riots of 2002 that took place under his watch. The reasons are many but the following definitely played a role:-
(a) No political party thought that he would be anointed the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate. They
expected massive convulsions within the party what with leaders like Advani, Joshi and Jaswant
Singh pressing for their rightful positions at the helm! That such things were nipped before the
kick starting of the campaign showed his mastery in assuming the leadership mantle.
(b) The UPA governments I and II, with the backing of the state machinery, tried to bring him
to book for his alleged complicity in the '02 riots - a deliberate attempt at inaction when his state
burned, presumably to teach the Muslims a lesson and show them their place - failed miserably
with the Special Investigation Team set up by the Supreme Court giving him a clean chit. The
efforts of the Sanjeev Bhatts and the Teesta Setalvads failed to indict him, planting a certain
amount of doubt among the common man as to whether the stories that were spun out were
just that.
(c) The development that Gujarat has seen over his years as Chief Minister was a fact evident
on the ground and tom-tommed by even the statisticians of the union government. People began
asking aloud as to why such a development model could not be pursued in the other states too.
(d) The grave error on the part of the Congress bigwigs to ignore him completely in their campaign
speeches at the initial stages.
(e) The sidelining of Manmohan Singh by the Congress bigwigs resulting in massive scams, policy
paralysis and complete inaction of the government. The people's disenchantment was swift
especially after the fact that all policy files were scrutinised and decided by Sonia Gandhi was
brought to light.
I happened to follow his interview with Arnab Goswami on 'Times Now' this evening. He came across as one who'd a clarity of thought, strong and not wavering on convictions with a thrust on development and governance.
He's shouldered the entire campaign activity of his party by presiding over 400 rallies and making public appearances, all over the country.
Let's see as to what India gives him on the 16th of May and I wish him the best. He deserves to be given a chance to lead this country.
Tailpiece.
One thing is for sure. There's gonna be a sea change in the way politics will be played in this country after elections '14!
He's indeed come a long way from what he was just a few months back - the chief minister of a state not fully known all over the country except, perhaps, for the ignominy of the Gujarat riots of 2002 that took place under his watch. The reasons are many but the following definitely played a role:-
(a) No political party thought that he would be anointed the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate. They
expected massive convulsions within the party what with leaders like Advani, Joshi and Jaswant
Singh pressing for their rightful positions at the helm! That such things were nipped before the
kick starting of the campaign showed his mastery in assuming the leadership mantle.
(b) The UPA governments I and II, with the backing of the state machinery, tried to bring him
to book for his alleged complicity in the '02 riots - a deliberate attempt at inaction when his state
burned, presumably to teach the Muslims a lesson and show them their place - failed miserably
with the Special Investigation Team set up by the Supreme Court giving him a clean chit. The
efforts of the Sanjeev Bhatts and the Teesta Setalvads failed to indict him, planting a certain
amount of doubt among the common man as to whether the stories that were spun out were
just that.
(c) The development that Gujarat has seen over his years as Chief Minister was a fact evident
on the ground and tom-tommed by even the statisticians of the union government. People began
asking aloud as to why such a development model could not be pursued in the other states too.
(d) The grave error on the part of the Congress bigwigs to ignore him completely in their campaign
speeches at the initial stages.
(e) The sidelining of Manmohan Singh by the Congress bigwigs resulting in massive scams, policy
paralysis and complete inaction of the government. The people's disenchantment was swift
especially after the fact that all policy files were scrutinised and decided by Sonia Gandhi was
brought to light.
I happened to follow his interview with Arnab Goswami on 'Times Now' this evening. He came across as one who'd a clarity of thought, strong and not wavering on convictions with a thrust on development and governance.
He's shouldered the entire campaign activity of his party by presiding over 400 rallies and making public appearances, all over the country.
Let's see as to what India gives him on the 16th of May and I wish him the best. He deserves to be given a chance to lead this country.
Tailpiece.
One thing is for sure. There's gonna be a sea change in the way politics will be played in this country after elections '14!
No comments:
Post a Comment