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At the end of the day, it's worked for Modi
Published on Sun, Dec 23, 2007 at 21:03, Updated on Sun, Dec 23, 2007 at 21:06 in Nation section
Tags: Assembly Elections 2007, Gujarat , Ahmedabad
MODI TAKES IT ALL: Even Modi's stronger opponents concede that it is a remarkable performance by all standards.
Ahmedabad: Just 90 minutes into counting of votes in the battle for Gujarat, Narendra Modi's 56 inch chest got wider. He will now be Chief Minister for another five years.
Modi's combination of a development agenda, dumping as many as 40 sitting MLAs, taking on rebels and ignoring potential allies like the RSS and VHP and a burst of shrill emotive polarising rhetoric towards the end of campaigning got him the numbers that beat all expectations — probably even Modi's own.
"The people of Gujarat have rejected negativism and given a positive vote," Modi said.
Ultimately, it was the north and Saurashtra regions of the state that put Modi in a commanding position. The north was a particularly strong performance, where Modi improved over his 2002 outcome against the grain of conventional political wisdom.
In Saurashtra, the rebel factor — led by senior BJP leader Keshubhai Patel — was seen as a possible pitfall for Modi, but this too failed to stop his charge, despite the Koli vote largely going to the Congress.
The Congress conceded defeat by 10:30 hrs IST, two-and-a-half hours after the electronic voting machines were opened, its gains mainly in areas affected by the riots of 2002.
However, it was starkly obvious that the Congress' star campaigners — Sonia and Rahul Gandhi — failed to convert crowds into votes and Sonia Gandhi's 'merchants of death' speech went horribly wrong in the end.
Congress General Secretary, BK Hariprasad said, "We failed at the grassroot level to convert those people who came to hear Sonia Gandhi's speech into votes."
In Delhi, the BJP central leadership is also exultant for it is the party's first major electoral victory after the debacle in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year.
BJP President, Rajnath Singh said, "We have won because of our ideology and Modi's development policies."
If this election was a referendum for Narendra Modi, then he has passed it with flying colours. But the impact of the sweeping victory will be felt in far away New Delhi as well. In fact, Narendra Modi has always said that he wants a more national role for himself. And this victory will provide the much-needed fuel power for him to perhaps realise his dream.
Next week, Modi takes the Chief Minister's oath for the third time, heading the fourth consecutive BJP government in the state. And even his stronger opponents concede that it is a remarkable performance by all standards.
(With inputs from Meghdoot Sharon and Veeragahav in Ahmedabad)
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