Narendra Modi Victory in Gujarat

Narendra Modi Victory in Gujarat

Narendra Modi led BJP to a victory in Gujarat stae legislative (Vidhan Sabha) elections by a decisive almost two-thirds majority over Congress. Congress and pro-Congress, leftist media aided by the notoriously inaccurate exit polls and illegal satta (betting) odds thought that there was perfect storm against Modi and BJP. Their premise was based on the following (in their view)

• Pandering to the communal Moslem vote bank
• Reignition of caste politics and regathering of the elements of KHAM in their favor
• Regaining of Adivasi (scheduled tribe) votes
• Dissatisfaction amongst farmers who were no longer able to steal electricity
• Dissidence in BJP - especially defections in Saurashtra and open reballion led by two former Chief Ministers (Keshubhai Patel and Suresh Mehta) in addition to defction of former BJP stalwart Shankarsih Vaghela
• Illusion that economis development had somehow alluded the majority of Gujarat population
• Perceived lack of suppoert from Hindu organizations like RSS and VHP and initial opposition from Uma Bharati and her fledgling party
  
  So what proved Congress and its media cohorts wrong? What lessons does this elections have for Indian politics? Here is a Cliff Notes version of response for the Indian politicians:

• Voters prefer real security from terrorists over Hindi movie dialogs and cliches written by Bollywood writers.
• People know economic progress when they see it. No amount of fake economic data to convince the populance otherwise will work. Good governance pays!
• Politicians should inspire hope for a better future rather than try to convince the people that all the good work has already been accomplished. This is the subtle difference beteen 'India Shining" and "Jeetega Gujarat". Jeetega Gujarat gives further hope for better future, whereas "India Shining" inspires a "left out" feeling amongst those who are on a path to progress but have not yet quite reached
• The people of India have not yet given up on the corruption free politics - as much as we have come to expect corruption in public life, when people have an opportunity to vote for a clean politician like Narendra Modi they will
• Caste based politics, offering quota and appeasing religious minority is immoral and appeals to the lowest common denominator of our society. People see that - but political parties have no couurage to counter that. But when presented with a real choice between dynamic, honest growth driven option, people will choose that - hands down. Mayawati need not apply!
• We are witnessing the beginning of the end of religious discrimination of Hindus in India. The 82% Hindu majority is not going to accept the divide and rule politics of Congress/Communist anti-Hindu cohorts
• Personality will prevail over party. People like the notion that they have a voice in electing a leader directly rather than delegating that responsibility to a party whose inner politics will choose a leader for them. In Gujarat people chose Narendra Modi instead of a no-name Congress leader, much the same as several decades ago when people chose Indira Gandhi over Congress Syndicate or Congress (O)
• Opportunistic politics will not pay. Keshubhai Patel and Suresh Mehta abandonded their lifelong ideology and asked people to follow them. The people refused, and rightfully so. why should people abandon their beliefs to fulfill the ego of politicians?
• Talk to people and not just your media friends. Congress derived its confidence by reading english medium press reports and editorials which were created based on interviews, scoops and news stories planted by Congress and leftist NGOs. It led to a lot of pre-election "feel good" factor within Congress but did not lead to votes. Modi on the other hand ignored the media and approached the people directly
  
  Gujarat elections results are certain to reverbarate throughout the Indian politics