"JDU must not interfere in BJP affairs'."
Venkaiah Naidu
"JDU must not interfere in BJP affairs'."
Venkaiah Naidu Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi arrives to attend the BJP Chief Ministers Conclave in New Delhi on Saturday. (PTI photo by Vijay Kumar Joshi)
The American election season has started to hot up with the announcement of a running mate by Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for President. Since the announcement there has been a sharpened tone to the public debate drawing a lot of attention to the man who will be Vice-President if Romney were to get elected to the American Presidency. In an interesting column, writing for the Washington Post on August 16, Charles Krauthammer had this to say on the perception that is being created of Romney’s choice of running mate:
“ it seems, (he) is determined to dispossess grandmother, then toss her over a cliff. If the charge is not successfully countered, good-bye Florida”
This narrative of painting someone as a polarising figure with macabre metaphors has a parallel in Indian politics as well. We are fed stories on alleged interviews and quick denials in what has now become a routine affair on why the BJP must not make a polarising choice lest it risk the next general election.
The BJP in India and the GOP in the United States had sort of similar political predicaments during 2008-2009. Both of them were floundering on future direction after debilitating defeats in respective general elections. Both also found themselves torn apart between an extreme fringe that was uncompromising on cultural issues and a centrist establishment that was neither true to principle nor to cause. While the GOP had a turning point of sorts in 2010 with the Tea Party insurrection, the BJP in India lost its defining moments in 2011 to the ideologically sterile anti-corruption campaigns. Both parties then went on to face a pivotal question about their future leadership.
On this pivotal question one cannot but help observe that Mitt Romney, who is described as “mild and moderate” by Krauthammer, has gone far beyond in shaping the future of his party than LK Advani did to his.
To understand the significance of the polarising choice that Mitt Romney dared to make we must return to Krauthammer’s column in the Washington Post where he describes Paul Ryan as the “intellectual leader” and the de facto “parliamentary leader” before making these remarks:
“Ryan’s importance is enhanced by his identity as a movement conservative. Reagan was the first movement leader in modern times to achieve the presidency. Like him, Ryan represents a new kind of conservatism for his time.
Reagan rejected the moderate accommodationism represented by Gerald Ford, the sitting President Reagan nearly overthrew in 1976.
Ryan represents a new constitutional conservatism of limited Government and individual opportunity that carried Republicans to victory in 2010, not just as a rejection of Obama’s big-government hyper-liberalism but also as a significant departure from the philosophically undisciplined, idiosyncratically free-spending ‘compassionate conservatism’ of Obama’s Republican predecessor.”
For long LK Advani was both the ‘intellectual leader’ of the movement and the de facto ‘parliamentary leader’ of the BJP. But his version of the ideology that served the BJP well in the 1990s has since become an anachronism. It is tragic that rather than fulfill his role in clearly identifying the next ‘intellectual leader’ for the movement and solidifying his role as the ‘de facto parliamentary leader’ we are witness to farce being played out of Patna.
A narrative is being crafted by some sections of the media in Delhi on the basis of a questionable opinion poll. Within that narrative, replete with wishful thinking, a picture is being painted of victory being near at hand. Further it is being argued that the BJP must not risk that victory that is already in hand by making a so called “polarising choice”.
This narrative is not just flawed and removed from reality but will likely prove to be fatal to the BJP’s electoral prospects.
There is no other way but to put it bluntly – the BJP has a list of pretenders and not contenders for the post of Prime Minister, to which by the way there exists no vacancy at the moment. How seriously can we take the BJP’s claim to be the alternative to the UPA if it can even entertain the idea of a Rajnath Singh or a Murali Manohar Joshi as a possible Prime Minister?
To even remotely suggest that someone outside the party who has been making too clever by half political moves for months will have a say in deciding that ‘Leader’ is a sign of the deep disconnect between the BJP’s leaders in Delhi and the mood of the party’s rank and file.
With no election to the Lok Sabha on the horizon the BJP neither needs the ignominy of another Prime Minister in waiting nor the pre-poll ideological incoherence of opportunistic allies who grow at its expense.
What the BJP needs right now is a movement ‘intellectual leader’ who is also seen as the ‘de facto Parliamentary leader’ who charts a clear path for the BJP to grow organically and earn the people’s mandate by offering a clear alternative to the UPA with the twin messages of limited role for Government in economic activity and equal opportunities.
If that choice of an ‘intellectual leader’ and ‘de facto Parliamentary leader’ is polarising to some, so be it.
(The writer is a commentator on Indian politics and public policy. Opinions expressed in this article are his persons views.)
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panduranghari
August 19, 2012 at 4:51 am
Modi fits the profile of a leader who has mass appeal. At 61 he has the age to go with experience. He has delivered at state level on economic front and there have been no riots in Gujrat since 2002 proves he has a iron grip on the law and order. Will this be replicated on national level? The general blogosphere feels he is the savior. It would be foolish for LK Advani to act like a road block. He is too old to really be appealing. Modi and Swaraj would be ideal team. In my opinion they would win hands down.
Jitendra Desai
August 19, 2012 at 10:22 am
Right.Again!Compliments.
India Today poll is a Congress-Communist ploy to start [once again] a fratricidal war within BJP.Moment NDA is assured of majority, within BJP there could be farcical race for PM and what not.That will be enough for media,Congress and Communists to lampoon Hindu right and then push for the so called 3rd front.Mulayam will be ready to do a La Charan singh and then pull the plug around 2016, calling him a dog and then make way for Rahul raj.
BJP leadership should be able to see through this game.If not,2014 will provide 100 or less seats to BJP to sit in the opposition till cows come home.BJP then will have enough time to plan and start yatras on various themes,agitate at Jantar Mantar,attend TV talk shows and remain generally of nuisance value to Congress in Delhi.Many DElhi based BJP leaders want only this much and nothing more!
Best strategy for BJP is to put this govt of thugs on the mat inside and out side parliament.Tell Hindus what is going on in Assam,Bihar and Bengal,Tell Industry and trade what is happening in Gujarat and help MOdi win Gujarart state elections in December 2012 and THEN DECLARE MODI AS PM CANDIDATE AND DECLARE THAT ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE PARTY [pun intended]
Jitendra Desai
August 19, 2012 at 10:36 am
@Panduranghari,
You are right.What we need at the Center in Delhi is a govt that governs the least.[ His slogan is maximum governance, minimum government] He is very honest and is likley to put in place systems, which will ensure fast decision making and even faster tracking of on going work/projects[eg, if a death occurs in a factory due to an accident, factory inpsector is supposed to visit the factory immediately and then? File a proper accident report on the SAME DAY to Gandhinagar and serve appropriate notice to the factory owner.At the national level we need such approches to speed up things in right direction.
More importantly, nation needs a man and a very good team of leaders to improve India’s external standing wrt to security and economy.Inspite of being 2nd most populated democracy,having 3rd largest army and having 4th largest economy, UPA II is taking the country for a ride even with Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.
Sudha
August 19, 2012 at 10:50 am
I will rather say, If the choice is polarising to some or more, so be it. Lets open our eyes and come to reality. Its time to take hard decision and be prepare for critisism but be bold to stick to it.
Many intelactual Hindu’s might oppose to your this decision but so be it, don’t care for them, as mass will come behind you.
As common man, I am fedup with sick secularism which is only teaching today to tolerate any nusance created by minorities. But at the same time, we need to be extremely caution to not have any incident like Gujrat riots, which had made such big dunt on BJP face. That one incident is taking you far behind otherwise you guys would have front runner today. We need to implement true seculaism where law & order remain equal for all. All rule to be followed equally for everyone without ANY exceptions.
And when I vision all this, no one else comes in my mind then Mr. Narendra Modi, not because he has brought progress to Gujrat but because of his cristal clear thought and determination and capability to implemeent it. No one will dare to create nuances like its been done today in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Lucknow and in that matter Assam also. Today country is dying to see strong leadership who can bring law & order, progress, peace.
BJP has only way to go by projecting Modi as PM candidate, sooner they do better for them as there would be good people also like Mr. CM of Bihar who would leave them by this decision but then its price you should be prepare to pay for bigger gain. Any further delay will cost them every day.
Mohan Shandilya
August 19, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Indian Parliament has been attacked … Mumbai also wounded … not once, not twice but more thrice … Hindu women, children and men killed in UP, Andhra, Keral, Assam, Mumbai and elsewhere on the border and in Holy cities of Benaras & Mathura … Lakhs of Crores of public money siphoned out with no trace … scams after scams – exposed by the Highest Stautory Audit Authority – no action … Khangress has no moral right to remain as Government … even for a moment.
Ravi
August 19, 2012 at 1:28 pm
they are afraid of Modi’s rising popularity. Media is being generously given money. Media in India is like a concubine being fed on congress money, mauled in night by communists.
What is congress talking off when their first family’s hands are stained with blood of operation bluestar and 1984, 2g scam, CWG etc etc an endless list of scnadals. their coeterie is full of corrupt hungry for poor people , look at states ruled by congress and sucularists, rampant corruption and unaccountability is major factor.
If India has to survive Minority appeasement has to go, specially family rule has to go….
R Balaji
August 19, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Hi,
The comparison with Paul Ryan, I think is far-too simplistic. Because
in USA, leaving Social, Religious issues behind for a moment, economic
idealogy have followers in all spectrum of population.
Specifically, 16 crore middle/upper middle class people out of 35
crore population gives this space. Any political formulation which
ignores this reality in USA does it at its own peril.
But, the middle/upper middle class people in India is below even 40
percent. Also, the understanding of economic idealogy requires some time.
After 20 years of liberalisation, I don’t see a sizeable idealogical
economic right that can supercede the vast no-idealogy people. They
are not idealogy-neutral but no-idealogy people.
Eventhough, I will vote for Mr.Modi for only economic reasons, for
the economic model, he has created in Gujrat, most of my fellow villagers
do not know who is Mr.Modi. (I live in a village in TN).
So, for Mr.Modi to win, in addition to the votes of economic right,
the votes of no-idealogy people also are required. Mr.Modi is a master
of this game.
But, to compare this with USA is far fetched.
MUSLIM BHAGAWAT
August 19, 2012 at 5:24 pm
NOW BJP is at a stage when every thing going in its favour why should it crumble before JDU,I dont comprehend.JDU has played a vote bank politics which BJP decries and also it wont last in next election whenever held as the hindu voters polarisation would make way for a long desired need of a hindu vote bank.Now it is the only BJP which dont believe in any vote bank but fact is that no other also apprehend that one day the country would se polarisation of Hindu voters and consolidation of a hindu vote bank.Now the Hindu rennaissance along with a strong backlash would destined to bring BJP to power but for that we have to project a strong leader who has shown some guts during the last 5/6 years by bringing development,safety of indian citizens,ensuirng crime free atmosphere and only and only narendra Modi fits the bill.We cant aspire to make a list of six leaders from advani,sushma swaraj,arunjaiteky,MMJoshi,RNsingh and also Nitin Gadkari.They are midgets in politics now.Now Indian people wants Narendra Modi as PM and if BJP fails to project him then BJP will collapse and Congress will came to power when people see that there is no alternative of Congress albeit they think it reprehensible to vote a foreigner christian dictator again.But there is no option as BJP would handover the country to her on aplatter under blackmail by a modern day Suhraburdy, Nitishkumar.
MUSLIM BHAGAWAT
August 20, 2012 at 10:12 am
WE are prepared to sacrifice modern day Suhraburdhy Nitish Kumar for a strong and prosperous India.Nitish Kumar is a good administrator but political opportunity without any morality and strength when he panders to vote bank of Muslims and for which he wanted to block path of namo.It is also fact that few Top laeders of BJP wants to block path of Namo with a conspiring Suhraburdhy.If Nitish Kumar so desires he should leave BJP now and align with congress as he told The Week.But dont conspire with D4 and LKA to ruin BJP.Whole of india will not forgive all of these conspirators for their sins of ruining India for their selfish goals.
SUJATA ROY
April 15, 2013 at 6:18 pm
We are helpless. We have to bring UPA3 in 2014 because of internal divisive forces within NDA through two main parties BJP & JDU. It seems people are polarising in favour of ModiBhai, while NitishJi, though efficient enough is being given thrust through UPA components who would not hesitate to accept Nitish as a PM choice in the event of any TRISHANKU situation to keep BJP at bay. With 2014 approaching PM choice is gaining more attraction than real issue of corruption to which Kongress in UPA and BJP at Karnataka (remember yeddy and reddy) share equal status. Aam Admi Party has failed to create a mass base which could have been welcome and is unlikely to have any impact on votors other than cutting the BJP mandates.
A
April 15, 2013 at 7:57 pm
I’ve been going through various news sites and social media as well. The get-paid to slam Modi people are on most. I don’t quite remember the amount allocated by the crown prince for this job, and will be grateful if someone can post a link that has the numbers.