If there were any doubts earlier on the timing of Narendra Modi's entry into the national political arena, the Supreme Court verdict asking the trial court in Ahmedabad to make a determination on the guilt or innocence of the Gujarat Chief Minister in the Zakia case has certainly brightened the chances of an early entrance.
As long as the matter was under the active consideration of the Supreme Court, the sword of Damocles was hanging over Mr. Modi's head. If the trial court chooses not to proceed against the Chief Minister and he then wins the next Assembly election due in 2012, he is almost certain to be brought in as the next party president of the BJP at the end of the three-year tenure of present incumbent Nitin Gadkari.
This view was expressed by party leaders even as Kanchan Gupta, a former official in the Vajpayee PMO, tweeted after the verdict: “I can bet my (new) ‘gamcha' Delhi 4 in deep depression, inconsolable. I can bet my (used) Dunhill briar Delhi 4 will now prop up Advani.”
The message was plain: Delhi 4 — Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar — would be depressed and inconsolable as “their” chance of emerging as the number one leader in the party is now remote. Their best chance may now be to “prop up Advani” to prevent a Modi takeover of the party. After all, a younger Mr. Modi could end their own dreams of ever occupying the top position, while a much older Mr. Advani can at best dream of being Prime Minister for another five years.
On the face of it, of course, senior BJP leaders Mr. Jaitley — who just stopped short of saying the Supreme Court has given Mr. Modi a clean chit — and Ms. Swaraj — who tweeted that Mr. Modi had passed an agnipareeksha and “satyameva jayate … after years truth has won a victory” — heaped praise on Mr. Modi as one of the most prominent party leaders.
Apparently, there was a move afoot in the BJP to amend the party constitution to enable Mr. Gadkari to get a second term of three years in the job. “Now that will not happen. It is Mr. Modi who will be brought in as the next party president,” said one leader speaking on condition of anonymity.
While the Gadkari formula of a “collective leadership” may be used in the next general election — no one may be projected as the party's prime ministerial candidate — Mr. Modi will automatically be projected as the party's public face if he is at the helm of affairs.
A good reason for not projecting Mr. Modi directly is that it may scare away potential allies like the Telugu Desam Party.
However, if, in the next election, the BJP gets a good number of seats and there is the very real possibility of it forming the government, the view in the party is that actual and potential allies are likely to accept the arrangement.
In that scenario, will allies like the Janata Dal (United) prefer a Congress-led government? The answer is likely to be “No” and the BJP is banking on this.
Keywords: Gulberg Society massacre, Narendra Modi, BJP, leadership qualities
The very thought that Modi can come to center to resurrect the sagging spirit of the Rightest Party,the BJP,I shudder to think that "action and reaction" theory would find a free play. A decision which the highest court of the land could have taken whereby the Nation would have known as to what had happened in Gujrat in Feb. 2001, has now been deferred for the future. It has not only caused uncertainty but strengthened the forces of "action and reaction" theory.
It's obvious Mr Modi suffers from Illusions of Grandeur and has ardent
followers only among people of his own religion. The TV shots of him
waving and waving like he was the Queen of England but oddly enough
with hardly any one waving back was sight to see. Maybe the people of
his state are afraid to wave back on account of the SIX GUNMEN
constantly at his side with guns held in shoot at sight position, I
hate to imagine how much more security (my tax money!) he would need
if he did end up center stage. Next to Rahul Gandhi for Congress, Modi
is the BJP next White Skin hype for Prime Minister, as if life depends
on GDP which benefits only the 5% rich and 15% business class! One
thing is sure, if he does become Prime Minister by some weird chance,
I shall apply for a passport and seek asylum in another country.
Modi is the most talented & outstanding leader of Post- Independent era.
Congress & communalists are trying every trick in their bag to see that he doe not come to Delhi.If he does not come to Delhi, it is not his loss but that of the Country.He will take India to commanding heights.The Nehru Dynasty can never come back to power in Delhi.That is why, they r spreading canards/ unsubstantiated charges.He is the best bet for us to get rid of the Dynasty.
It is extremely sad that the Supreme court has not pronounced the judgement on the case filed by Zakia Jaffery, the slain Congress MP's widow who was mutilated and killed during the Gujarat pogrom. Even if the police or military had been put on duty during the time of mob frenzy, the entire violence episode could have been stopped within few hours. How come mob can be let freely for three days killing Muslims in Ahmedabad and other cities? It was a deliberate attempt by BJP to carry out the massacre. Indian Muslims have lost their faith in Indian judiciary after the Babri Masjid verdict and Gujarat pogrom case.
Mr. Modi is the best bet from BJP's side for next general elections in 2014. Welcome him to national stage and listen to his ideas. People deserve a change. Congress has rotten beyond recognition. Congress has no future if it does not field really clean and untainted candidates in the next elections. BJP should also need to be more transparent, secular and progress-oriented and pro-active in developmental matters. Public is watching both the national parties, this time. Let us see, if justice and fair-play has a role in Indian political system. India needs an Indian identity. We need to stop foreigners from dictating to us what should be our priority in economic and developmental matters. If India has a cultural history of hinduism for many millenia, why India cannot have a Hindu foundation, character and way of life? Can a national edifice be built without a foundation? We need not be ashamed to say our origin is from Hinduism and HIndu way of life.
Hitler was also strong administrator and an able leader, But what he had done was against the humanity.
Modi may have good qualities as a ruler. But a hate monger and rioter is unfit to rule the country.
Forget about the courts indicting Mr.Modi or not, it has always been very clear that Mr.Modi had issued lot of communally charged remarks against the minorities in the aftermath of Godhra incident and he still refuses to apologize for that.
Modi seems to revel in challenges and is becoming stronger by the day. I am sure for the country groaning under the terrible mismanagement of Congress his emergence as a strongman in the national level is the best thing that can happen to this country.
Modi is a strong administrator and an able leader. Now, since all the other 2nd order BJP leaders lack massive public support MODI is really a good choice for PM post.
While the analysis is well reasoned, one bit is factually incorrect, Mr. Arun Jaitley while commenting on the apex court order, did in fact say that the court order is not in the least an indictmemt of Mr Modi, who remains uncharged dispite this court ruling - he never fell short of stating that the court order has given the Gujarat Chief-Minister a clean chit, as the writer has stated. In fact the position, according to Mr. Jaitley is just the opposite.
Neena Vyas, your readers have had enough of your BJP baiting. They expect an objective and not a highly prejudiced assessment of the political situation in the country fron journalists like you. This comment, for your information, is coming from a long time reader of The Hindu and one who is not a BJP supporter.
The speculation of dissatisfaction amongst the top four BJP leaders being flaunted about by the media on the prospect of Modi being inducted to the top post of the BJP based on some ex PMO staff's tweet needs to be ignored and discouraged as the party at this point of time would like to have the best face to put forward in the next election and if Narendra Modi is the one to foot the bill, it would be so. The party would be above individuals and whatever arrangements they want to have with in the party would be primarily in the best interests of the Party. Such insinuations to create a rift in the party cadre certainly smacks of political mischief.
Hundreds of innocent victims lost their lives in the post Godhra carnage that continued for nearly two weeks. I would like to know how many of the perpetrators have been brought to book. The answer to this question will tell us whether the state government is biased. A bias so strong that the government could overlook wanton murder on the streets?
Well, the truth has a way of coming out eventually. Would Gandhi have been proud of such leaders, I think not!
Sir, the fact is that except Jaitley other three, Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar are not PM material, forget Advani. If BJP wants to win then only Mr. Modi is the candidate and he will be a formidable PM of India. This is the only reason, Congress wants his blood at any cost.
Recent verdicts of Supreme Court paved way to have little hope on the judicial system of India. But today the verdict on Modi case, (It is not a case on individual crime but crime against our nation sovereignty of secularism of India,) by diverting its responsibility to the side of Allahabad high court, had snatched that hope. I still believe the truth will win. The politician statements need not be applauded. In Democratic country like India let us hope for the best but ready to meet the worst situation. Jaihind!
BJP should stop navel gazing and look outside Swaraj & Jaitley for a national leader.While Swaraj and Jaitley were good at debating in the Parliament they lack pan-India appeal.Modi,whether one likes or dislikes him,is a smart economic manager and is the envy of many politicians in the way he has turned Gujarat into a modern economic hub.With the UPA at the Centre comatose, many projects of national and strategic interest lie dormant!India is crying out for a strong and effective leader.Modi has such leadership qualities.What he has to change is his current non secular image.Also he has to fight the issue of corruption seriously.If he can do these he could make a successful PM if BJP comes to power.If he is successful then other aspiring BJP leaders would be forced to fall in line!BJP should also guard against associating with discredited politicians/parties to come to power.If it does on its own steam by selecting clean candidates it would benefit greatly.
We would love to see him in the PM's seat, Progress over corruption
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