The Bharatiya Janata Party has long since lost its brand image of being a party “with a difference.” Even the joke about the BJP being a party “with differences” has begun to fray at the edges. Indeed, in the eight years since it made the transition to Principal Opposition Party, the BJP has rarely been in the news for anything but its in-house squabbles. Today, as Lal Krishna Advani takes on Nitin Gadkari, who has himself just about escaped being mauled in a battle with Narendra Modi, there is no saying who else will jump into the fight. The latest to don the boxing gloves is none other than the BJP's mouthpiece, Kamal Sandesh, which delivered some stinging homilies to the Gujarat Chief Minister. Not long ago, Mr. Advani, Mr. Modi and Arun Jaitley formed the troika that was seen to be ranged against the party's second rung. Even as the feuding raged, entered Mr. Gadkari, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-appointee, apparently on a mission to spread sunshine and cheer in the party. But obviously the party chief did not take the high seat in the BJP merely to win a geniality contest. As Mr. Gadkari set about clipping some important wings in the party — including notably that of the Gujarat Chief Minister — his own ambitions came to the fore. And yet there was only one way the Modi-Gadkari war could end — with Mr. Modi emerging triumphant.
For Mr. Gadkari, it was a hard choice. Either he allowed Mr. Modi to rub his nose in the ground or he settled for a deal whereby he would get a second term as chief in return for unreservedly acknowledging Mr. Modi as the future leader. The unstated subtext was of course that the Gujarat Chief Minister would be the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 general election. But surely in a party brimming over with PM-hopefuls, the twosome should have known better than to seal the deal by themselves. Mr. Gadkari got his second term only to face an unexpected party-pooper in the form of Mr. Advani. The curious thing here is the see-sawing Advani-Modi relationship. Once Mr. Modi's most ardent supporter, Mr. Advani today feels badly treated by the younger man. His outburst against Mr. Gadkari (recorded in his blog) is at least in part directed at Mr. Modi, and as much is evident from the party organ's indirect barbs at Mr. Modi. If there is a beneficiary here, it is the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance. Scam-tainted as it is, the UPA even at its lowest point has more allies by its side than the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and for the only reason that the BJP continues to be viewed as a party with a sectarian agenda. As a deeply polarising figure, Mr. Modi cannot but further disadvantage the NDA.
Keywords: BJP squabbles
Count us out if Narendra Modi is PM candidate: JD(U) (Nitish kumar) to BJP Advani is a secular leader,the best prime ministerial candidate: Syed Shahnawaz Hussain. it's almost clear if Narendra Modi will be projected as the Prime Minister in making, BJP must uncount the MP seats from bihar(which is a major loss) and it's true expect that BJP cannot form government without J.D.(U)
India has no other better choice than Mr. Modi to take over as PM. We know the future of Congress leadership i.e. Mr. Rahul Gandhi, we are already into trauma since last 8 years with Mr. Manmohan Singh as India's most impotent PM, we all know how capable Mr. Rahul Gandhi is. We have seen Mr. Modi's Gujarat for the last 10 years, we really wish India to be governed in the same manner by the same leadership. We are with Modi. We don't care what The Hindu speaks, or any other Media. We believe what we see and what we hear from the people of Gujarat. The Hindu should also go and interview general Gujaratis,and they will get the right answer about Modi. We youths are in support of Mr. Modi as our Next PM. We will vote for him only.
narendra modi is taking charge of the party surely and steadily which is the first step.then he will be officially projected as pm candidate.his presence inthe fight to prime ministership will galvanise the party cader.when BJP wins sufficient seats nitish kumar will adjust.sushma who has not shown any thing worthwhile in practice except very good speeches cannot projected as pm candidate.advani is too old and has failed he should realise and make way for modi with blessings.arun jaitly is a very sensible and intelligent person who will assist modi i do not rhink he will oppose modi.modi has caught the imagination of the people and will electrify 2014 elections.this is the only way to stem the rot,otherwise we are in for centuries of slavery infuture if the present situation is allowed to continue!
Modi is guilty of conversion as he converted many Congressi and
converted them to have faith in his BJP.
From the reports seen in various news media in India, it seems the
plan to portray BJP/NDA as a divided house thus seemingly unfit to
rule the country, is afloat and is going to be carried methodically
and in chorus by lesftist-Congress owned media tycoons.
BJP and NDA both offer a collective leadership. Such collegium offers
inbuilt checks and balances so that no leader can implement extreme
policies. Some call it a coalition Dharma, some other RajDharma. So,
in such an environment, before the order settles down, we see a lot of
turbidity and different voices. This is a democratic yet chaotic
process of reaching some equilibrium for common minimum agenda. NDA
will eventually reach this mile stone in next few months. The public
pressure is strong and it will force the diverse opinions to come
together and offer a trustworthy alterantive in 2014. Of course, the
UPA/Congress/Leftist sympathysers will try every trick to not let the
differences settle in NDA.
A leader is someone who has a guiding principle, philosophy and opinions in his life , set goals and inspires people along the way. If he is able to convince common men to join in on the mission to achieve those goals. Manmohan Singh is a failed leader, leadership is not about personal traits alone but the will to stand up and state one's point of view even if he thinks that its going to polarize few people. India needs someone like Narendra Modi to lead the next generation. If people like Godhra is a stain on him, the current gandhi sponsored massacres in name of freedom in Punjab,Northeast and more. Congress Party does not have a monopoly in secularism and patriotism. Their leaders did not lose their lives for freedom but because of their own failed policies.
Ah yes, the knives are out. BJP members are squabbling for power. Who
knows, next they may decide to (horror of horrors) face off openly in
the form of primaries, as in the US. We wouldn't want that now, would
we? India (through articles in the mainstream media) wants to be ruled
by a party where there is NO difference of opinion. Everyone should
swear fealty to the family that owns the party, and have the same
boilerplate response for any issue. After all, differences are bad for
democracy. Look at North Korea. How uniform, how democratic, how
progressive they are. India has to follow that shining beacon to be
truly democratic.
Infighting is quite common even in media houses where differences exist betwwen family members of the owners.Is there any State where the Congeress is not infested with factionalism and power-mongering ?
In fact it is the Congress which indulges in the stinking 'divide and rule" policy to saty in pwer at any cost and if the media wants to remian in bissful blindness the loss is not for the country. The common man is mature and wise enough to know which party will work for the country' progess.
Well said Hindu! The reality is that the BJP has become a destructive force in Parliament too after being so in the streets. the Hindutva agenda has become completely irrelevant and most Indians have enjoyed the new mantra of growth and inclusiveness. Muslims in UP and Bihar too have shown that growth is high on their agenda. The BJP will continue to argue about quotas for Muslims and defend Modi's atrocities in Gujerat. An irrelevant party with no vision for the new World, caught up in ideas of division that got them into power by default!
@Harish your comment "It's really pretty sad that federal politics of
India are left to these two incompetent parties" is very true and it is
a tragedy for India. But any day I prefer congress to BJP with current
state (Yeddi's, Reddi's gang and Porn with remote control RSS)
Modi is determinedly foisting himself as PM candidate banking on
his economic development of Gujarath.It may help him at State level
elections but other issues like post godhra pogrom will come up in
Lok Sabha poll. It will be pretty long before Modi could live down
the riots' aftermath SIT notwithstanding.So deeply have sunk the
riot ramifications on the minds of Muslim and non BJP voters that
it will be difficult for Modi to contend against it.As editorially
observed by The Hindu that as a deeply polarising figure Modi
cannot but further disadvantage NDA.But nobody in BJP seems to be
bold enough to challenge a Modi decision in the matter.
With the contradictions within the BJP now in the Open, the knives are out in the webspace too. Facebook pages titled "Narendra Modi for PM" are regularly posting updates trying to create an opinion in favour of Mr.Modi whilst indirectly castigating the other leaders. Sadly, this means putting a person above a political party and it does not augur well for Indian Democracy. Modi's history concerning the bloody riots in 2002 and his tenacity when it comes to pursuing the neo-liberal policies (that resulted in a 32% BPL population in Gujarat) have only compounded my miseries. Hopefully, the readers of this comment carefully scrutinise the government of Modi from every possible angle before registering a support for him.
Rss has to concentrate on character building,coming clean on Indian
caste system prejudice and develop people like Gobindacharya.
If good people like Dr.Mnmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, P.Chidambaram, Salman Khursheed, Jairam Ramesh and such others, cannot retrieve the Congress party from the abyss it has got into,I don't think, BJP, with its awoved 'sectarian agenda'and inter-party squabbles between the so-called 'leaders' (even then hardly a few?),can do any better, mindful of their performances at the various State levels? One way, Congress can achieve some success in the remaining period is go through sternly with their agenda/election promises, select well-educated youngsters for offering seats, keep away die-hard 'so-called veterans',avoid contact with 'tainted' parties as partners, and continue to work in rural areas for their up-liftment in a sincere manner, a task well-undertaken by Rahul and strengthen their grass-root workers, giving them confidencen and concentrate on (1)arresting the price-rise, improving electricity, water supply, rural health and above all, investing in improving infrastructure etc
If good people like Dr.Mnmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, P.Chidambaram, Salman Khursheed, Jairam Ramesh and such others, cannot retrieve the Congress party from the abyss it has got into,I don't think, BJP, with its awoved 'sectarian agenda'and inter-party squabbles between the so-called 'leaders' (even then hardly a few?),can do any better, mindful of their performances at the various State levels? One way, Congress can achieve some success in the remaining period is go through sternly with their agenda/election promises, select well-educated youngsters for offering seats, keep away die-hard 'so-called veterans',avoid contact with 'tainted' parties as partners, and continue to work in rural areas for their up-liftment in a sincere manner, a task well-undertaken by Rahul and strengthen their grass-root workers, giving them confidencen and concentrate on (1)arresting the price-rise, improving electricity, water supply, rural health and above all, investing in improving infrastructure etc
BJP will only win if it fights elections without allies. In current scenario it hardly matters whether advani or modi should be projected as PM candidate. BJP should instead focus on fighting alone so people know that they won't have MMS excuse of "cumpulsions of coalition".
BJP has lost the essence of central party thanks to the leaders who have given their personal agenda a priority, rather than standing by the party principles. The reason behind all this lies in the history itself as party didn't highlighted a public face other than Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The irony was that when Vajpayee retired the so called trump cards like L K Advani, M M Joshi and others shattered on the ground. The only leader who retained a status was Narendra modi. It took time for party to recover, meanwhile Gadkari came into frame because of RSS nomination. The senior leaders were lagging behind the popularity of Narendra Modi. This all led to the conflict. The way out is only to accept Narendra Modi as public face of the party with party principles given topmost priority. If party wants to retain itself as a central party instead of being divided into regional planks then it has to do all this as soon as possible.
Politics is waste of time. If we all take about the prestige of the parties means we are also waste just like the parties in the country. If anybody like Anna Hazzare wants to do betterment of the country the whole politics has taken benefits from it and all are criticizing when it comes on then. Now BJP is in favor to Anna but when it will come to ruling then it's condition will also be the same as it is of congress today.
Indian politicians have lost their plot. They have no strong agendas or inspirational
plans for the country nor for themselves.
They would like to get into power to amass as much wealth as possible. With the Rupee
sinking to an all time low, fast chasing the lower morale in the masses, there is a need
for a national consensus on how to get back on track to keep India, independent
prosperous and dignified.
While relations with Pakistan seem to be on the mend, politics in India seem to be
heading south.
Modi is determinedly foisting himself as the PM candidate banking on his gujarath development record.This will not help him at national level.Only post-Godhra pogrom and his handling it come to the voters'mind . Modi cannot hope to live down the riots within the foreseeable future SIT report notwithstanding.The only thing the NDA will have to do is to rule out Modi for PM and project someone nationally known,non controversial,charismatic(if available)young leader.Nobody has the guts to rule Modi out for PM. He will stay as PM candidate. As editorially observed by you as a deeply polarising figure Modi cannot but further disadvantage NDA. So we too cannot but help face scam-rule.
@Hindu, differences of opinion, discussion are the part of churning process for a democratic party like BJP or left parties. By starting this process, 2 years ahead of general elections, BJP has the first- mover advantage over Congress.
BJP leadership may have certain issues and The Hindu has every right to have their perspective. Recent developments in Kerala unit of CPI(M) had provided an opportunity to analyze culture of violence and factionalism in that party. But The Hindu editorial on that issue was an attempt to be politically correct and cover the core issues.
The moment Gadkary fell to the dictates of Narendra Modi and dismissed Sanjay Joshi from the Executive to get his position as the Chief of BJP extended for a further period of two years,he has lost his credibility.Of course,Gadkary has an ulterior motive.He wants the NDA to win the race in 2014 with the face of Modi in the front and then usurp the PM's seat!Unfortunately, he is on a wrong notion that the cruel face of Modi,the modern Nero is acceptable to all!That even his own party and also the RSS do not like the way Modi is trying to promote himself should be an eye opener to those who still believe that the BJP has a chance to win the 2014 elections. That doesn't mean that the UPA is going to have an edge over them.It is only the Aam Aadmi who are going to have a tough time in deciding who should rule them from 2014.
The party,kicked off with striking slogan of an altogether different one, now suffers badly for the brimming feuds within its cup. The personality cult, which manifests in all the political outfits does not elude BJP as well. Modi,now has the last laugh as L.K. Advani, the senior most apparatchik of BJP and a natural contender for the top job is sidelined now for known reasons. From day one, RSS calls the shots as Vajpayee, the tall leader had to admit once that he is first and last an RSS cadre. BJP, the principlal opposition, no doubt, vies for entry into corridors of power. But its bid is sought to thwarted by the belligerant face of RSS, which most of Indian voters are scared of. Ultimately, it is the congress, which may cash in on the fissures within BJP as the chinks in the armoury of BJP are more visible.
Frankly speaking, BJP rule can be far worse than any other party's rule. Take Karnataka just for an example. Land mafia and liquor mafia is ruling over Bangalore today with impunity. You can see Bars and liquor shops right in the middle of residential areas and near temples and bus-stands -- so many have sprung up in the last few years. It is disgusting to see liquor shops right in front of bus-stops in Bangalore -- how will women venture safely especially in the evenings(forget about night) in such an environment? And the recent killing of the whistleblower Mr.Mahanthesh who exposed BEML housing scam and especially the subsequent inaction by the state government shows how less the BJP will care for a corrupt-free society -- in fact, the BJP is hand-in-gloves with all sorts of rogues with big money and power for its survival. All the hype that the BJP tries to create in the national media regarding corruption is rubbish -- and the people, at least in Karnataka know this very well.
@K.Vijayakumar, i think you dont read Hindu daily. You said that Hindu only talks about BJP, not Congress. You just read the article which was published on the day before UPA led government completed its 3 years in power. I dont remember the exact date.
The BJP, like so many other populist parties with a sectarian agenda, has had trouble getting used to it's role as a ruling party on the few occasions when it has been voted into power. Rousing speeches and inflamed passions can attract the attention of the masses but what do you do when you are in office and clueless? Last time around, the NDA tried the "India shining"-mantra and also won handsomely in the urban regions only to fall flat on its face in the countryside where the farmers were committing suicide by the hundreds. The BJP needs to weed its ranks of VHP, RSS and other hardliners and remember that ruling India requires paying attention to the problems of all Indians - urban and rural, Hindu and Muslim, men and women. Admittedly, the UPA is not much better, run as it is in a feudalistic fashion by a dynasty, but the legacy of the one good PM India ever had - P V Narasimha Rao and his frontman Manmohan Singh makes the ever so small difference.
The recent conflict in BJP will act as a surplus to the intricacies they are facing. The internal difference in the party and the extra involvement of RSS in the party is one of the root cause behind it.
For all the BJP bashing you indulge in why don't the Hindu look around and see what is happening in the CPI(M)in Kerala.Political killings allegedly by the CPI(M),with a district leader(M.Mani)allegedly boasting hardly seems to have bothered The Hindu to write about the stalinist ways of the CPI(M).The CPI(M)in kerala is allegedly connected to the death of TP chandrashekharan(a former CPI(M)member)-55 cuts that took to slay him.Police have arrested district party members of the CPI(M)and still the CPI(M)argues it is a conspiracy,even Mahasweta devi has condemned this barbarity of the CPI(M).Writer,poets etc have remained silent spectators in Kerala-on the pay rolls of the CPI(M).On M.Mani who on camera eulogised that the CPI(M)was involved in Political killings in the idukki region.More so now the CPI(M)says they have not decided on action against M.Mani.VS achuthanandan have openly come out against the CPI(M)official faction.Instead of finding faults with BJP,Look at the CPI(M.)
Comments in this edit would apply to almost all parties. We find to our dismay that our political parties are in a state of decay. There are no ideologies Congress or BJP being no exception. Our democracy’s two biggest enemies are selfish politicians and a corrupt bureaucracy that provides 'support' to the politicians to bend rules and make money. All politicians are obsessed with power and as power of money rules in our elections they want to make more and more money from their 'political' activities. Citizens are not really concerned as to which party comes to power in the Centre or the States; they want good governance and adherence to democratic norms in decision making. If BJP and its NDA partners fit in the bill they would welcome NDA too. But unfortunately, the citizens see discordant notes every where, with little hope of good governance.
Not expected from a supposedly-unbiased paper like The Hindu! Why are Corporates preferring Gujarat over other states for investments? Why did a prominent sensible muslim in Gujarat appeal to muslims to join mainstream, citing the community's progress in Gujarat? Because Narendra Modi is not acceptable to them? Are we being fair to Narendra Modi by perennially projecting him negatively? Hardly any Hindu, to be frank, will like being hated for Hindus' once-in-a-while misadventures, mostly triggered by others' anti-national and anti-humanitarian deeds. For BJP to survive, there is no alternative but to project Modi as its PM candidate in 2014 elections. Advani would better be asked by RSS and BJP to shut up. Indians can no longer be duped by such editorials and made to accept like Rahul Gandhi as PM. They have painfully experienced the inaction of a highly educated as PM for over a decade already.
It's really pretty sad that federal politics of India are left to these two incompetent parties.
The fact is that BJP doesn't have a single leader who can be projected as the PM candidate. Aged Advani has already lost in 2004 and 2009. Modi has the stigma of 2002 riots. Beyond these two, there is no one else in the real sense of the term. BJP should pass on the mantle of PM candidature to someone like Nitish Kumar who would be acceptable not only to other members of NDA but also to those who are outside NDA. This is BJP's only chance for grabbing power at the centre in 2014.
Eventually, it is possible, Modi will have his way.He will smash his opponents with in the party with his demagogy and ruthlessness. Then big business and financial interests will join hands for the obvious reasons.With a Congress without much energy to resist the Modi onslaught even the allies- why allies even many congressmen, remember Kumaramangalam and others like him who flocked into BJP- will join the Modi bandwagon.History could repeat.Go back to the Germany of thirties to look for the parallels.Again it is a possibility only.
Recently Congress invited the wrath of its allies and common people by unilaterally raising petrol prices. Much has been talked about policy paralysis in the Congress led Government. Considering the loopholes and miss governance the congress is projecting the BJP must unite and consolidate its position to have chance in the forthcoming general election of 2014.
BJP as a party is not functioning as an effective opposition party. They cannot claim for the right to rule in the coming elections. Never in the history of modern India citizens have to witness corruption of humungous proportions. We expect the opposition party to protect the peoples' interest and bring changes in governance. BJP filed miserably to provide this relief from corruption, poor growth and development. The 8 years lost under UPA will cause great loss to the future generations.
Much of what you say about BJP in this editorial is unfortunately true. We readers wonder why the Hindu never/hardly writes about the shenanigans in the ruling family,party and the Left menagerie. Your view of Mr.Modi is shared and kept alive by the English media, not by the vernacular media or by vast majority of the Indian people including the Muslims.
If Sonia Gandhi can do what she pleases to anybody in the Congresss party without any critical scrutiny by the media,why should the Hindu take a critical note of what Nitin Gadkari does to other BJP leaders? One doesn't have to be a BJP supporter (this writer is not)to ask this question.
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