BJP tightens Hindu belt with Modi charm

The results of the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat will be declared only on May 16, but the BJP is already applauding chief minister Narendra Modi, who still does not seem to find the time to stop and look back.

Modi will continue to address six meetings every day till May 11, when electioneering comes to an end before the fifth and final phase of the general elections. But then, he will have addressed 60 meetings, mostly in the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

On Saturday, Modi was in neighbouring Rajasthan, garnering votes for the BJP and support for himself as the party’s next prime ministerial candidate, as come political analysts claimed. He talked to the party support at Chura, Nathdwara, Jodhpur, Kota and Pali. His focus on Sunday will be Haryana and Rajasthan, according to BJP sources.

Even as he leaves his official residence early every morning to begin campaigning work by noon, he knows he needs to win over the Hindu heartland of north India. This is undoubtedly a must if he is to fulfil the ambition of occupying the main chair in North Block in New Delhi, said party insiders.

Of utmost importance are the public meetings that Modi will hold in Uttar Pradesh, the home state of BJP president Rajnath Singh. The party head is the only big leader from the saffron organisation who has not publicly endorsed Modi as a contender of the nation’s top job.

It is now incumbent that the chief minister shows that he is a popular leader with mass support, by attracting a crowd in the cow belt and sugarcane belt.

“There is no doubt that he has appeal and people will come to listen to him. However, he has yet to garner support to fall back on,” a leading political analyst from the state said.

Apparently well aware of this, the Gujarati leader does not want to lose touch with the ground reality. When he flies back to Gandhinagar around midnight, he goes to meet local party leaders and his ministers to get an update on things in his home state, one of his top aides said.

Given the age factor in the case of the BJP’s current prime ministerial candidate, LK Advani, Modi’s responsibilities have increased manifold. In addition, his oratory skills place him on top of the list of leaders desired by grassroots-level party workers. So, he will be equally dedicated to meetings in Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

Interestingly though will be his halt in Tamil Nadu, where he will try to not only get support for his party, but also from one of the top local politicians.