Till next time...
Right, so the mandate of Gujarat is out! Narendra Modi will remain the CM! (And that acronym stands for Chief Minister, not for a Common Man as Mr Modi claims!)
I think when it comes to analyzing or debating, NDTV tops all news channels. I spent a good amount of time Sunday morning to catch the Gujarat assembly election results and loved the way NDTV 24 X 7 covered the event.
Three things stood out for me from the discussion:
1. Speculation that Modi will now set eye on the center.
2. Rajnath Singh claiming it a victory of BJP ideology.
3. Future of Nuclear Deal.
On Point 1, it is logical to think that Modi will try to move to center. I think it is not an ‘if’ question, but a ‘when’ question. As it is, moving to center doesn’t necessarily mean a smart move. There are too many contemporaries for Modi and besides, what worked in Gujarat will most likely backfire in center. At the same time, Modi can’t move on till he has found a successor who can continue the winning streak. I think it may be some while before Modi will move to center.
On Rajnath Singh claiming it as a victory for ideology, well, what crap! Ideologies have never won anyone an election in this country. Elections are won or lost only and only due to the leader’s image. Ideology can only be a supporting factor. Besides, for a national BJP leader to talk about ideology is like the Australian cricket team talking about good behaviour. Though Modi has clear ideology (and it may only be applicable to Gujarat), when was the last time BJP displayed any sort of ideology at the center?
Finally, one of the most intriguing points. How does this election affect the nuclear deal? Well, given that the Congress has taken a beating in this election, the current government at center will not like the idea of an early election at center and is most likely to go slow on the N-deal since it can be a potential threat to the government. Had the Congress won in Gujarat, they would have probably hardened their stand on the N-deal and might have sacrificed the government for the cause. Now that looks unlikely and as a Congress leader(Abhishek Manu Singhvi?) said on NDTV, what’s the point in dying if there’s no martyrdom?
Personally, I think Modi’s return is in the best interest of Gujarat. Though he remains controversial, there’s no one else in Gujarat who can challenge (or replace) him; whether in Congress or in the BJP dissidents. At the same time, Modi seems to be keenly focused on development and in next five years, development is what Gujarat needs!
In any case, I would love to witness Gujarat’s next assembly election. Next time around, Modi will need to prove that he is indeed the ‘VikasPurush’ as he is claiming to be but more importantly, next time the Congress won’t be able to use Godhra(or encounters) as an election issue. This means they will either have to find a leader to match Modi or an issue that matches development; both very difficult challenges to overcome! Honestly, unless something goes horribly wrong for Modi, I see him cruising in next election as well!
And that’s the time I think Modi will like to move to center; another reason why I would love to witness Gujarat’s next assembly election!
I think when it comes to analyzing or debating, NDTV tops all news channels. I spent a good amount of time Sunday morning to catch the Gujarat assembly election results and loved the way NDTV 24 X 7 covered the event.
Three things stood out for me from the discussion:
1. Speculation that Modi will now set eye on the center.
2. Rajnath Singh claiming it a victory of BJP ideology.
3. Future of Nuclear Deal.
On Point 1, it is logical to think that Modi will try to move to center. I think it is not an ‘if’ question, but a ‘when’ question. As it is, moving to center doesn’t necessarily mean a smart move. There are too many contemporaries for Modi and besides, what worked in Gujarat will most likely backfire in center. At the same time, Modi can’t move on till he has found a successor who can continue the winning streak. I think it may be some while before Modi will move to center.
On Rajnath Singh claiming it as a victory for ideology, well, what crap! Ideologies have never won anyone an election in this country. Elections are won or lost only and only due to the leader’s image. Ideology can only be a supporting factor. Besides, for a national BJP leader to talk about ideology is like the Australian cricket team talking about good behaviour. Though Modi has clear ideology (and it may only be applicable to Gujarat), when was the last time BJP displayed any sort of ideology at the center?
Finally, one of the most intriguing points. How does this election affect the nuclear deal? Well, given that the Congress has taken a beating in this election, the current government at center will not like the idea of an early election at center and is most likely to go slow on the N-deal since it can be a potential threat to the government. Had the Congress won in Gujarat, they would have probably hardened their stand on the N-deal and might have sacrificed the government for the cause. Now that looks unlikely and as a Congress leader(Abhishek Manu Singhvi?) said on NDTV, what’s the point in dying if there’s no martyrdom?
Personally, I think Modi’s return is in the best interest of Gujarat. Though he remains controversial, there’s no one else in Gujarat who can challenge (or replace) him; whether in Congress or in the BJP dissidents. At the same time, Modi seems to be keenly focused on development and in next five years, development is what Gujarat needs!
In any case, I would love to witness Gujarat’s next assembly election. Next time around, Modi will need to prove that he is indeed the ‘VikasPurush’ as he is claiming to be but more importantly, next time the Congress won’t be able to use Godhra(or encounters) as an election issue. This means they will either have to find a leader to match Modi or an issue that matches development; both very difficult challenges to overcome! Honestly, unless something goes horribly wrong for Modi, I see him cruising in next election as well!
And that’s the time I think Modi will like to move to center; another reason why I would love to witness Gujarat’s next assembly election!
posted by Leziblogger at 4:46 AM
2 comments
