Spin and Win
One can’t take away from the electoral success of Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister Narendra Modi for winning his third successive elections to the Gujarat state assembly with an impressive margin.
But, as Vidya Subrahmanyam, pointed out in The Hindu, he’s far from being the first person to have become chief minister for the third time in Indian politics.
Nevertheless, since Modi, who presided over the state of Gujarat when about 1,000 persons, most of them Muslims, were slaughtered in 2002, has national ambitions and has been winning election-after-election, his victory is significant.
Already, there’s a massive clamour, muted in his own party, the BJP, but very loud on television screens in the country, that Modi should become the party’s prime ministerial candidate for Lok Sabha, or national elections, due in 2014.
It’s almost as if there is a media business plan in place to create a space for Modi in national politics. Every question from TV anchors to the BJP leadership and others is the same: will Modi be the prime ministerial candidate for the opposition party come 2014?
That’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
In fact, as the 2014 elections approach, the clamour for Modi is going to grow louder – it will be helped along by the noisy, 24/7 channels that believe they make national politics – as well as big business which is of the opinion that the Gujarat Chief Minister is a role model.
For the foreseeable future, Modi will continue in Gujarat, but has made his national ambitions very clear when he said his victory was for Indians living beyond the state boundaries of Gujarat.
His image of a “hard” leader, the one who has led Gujarat on the path of development has been assiduously built over the years. The current election was ostensibly fought on the “development” plank, one he would like to take on to the national stage.
Many have picked big, gaping holes in his development story, but that did little to sway many Gujaratis, who believe that Modi is the man for them. In fact, in debate after debate, it’s been shown that Gujarat was growing much before Modi became Chief Minister, but that seems to have been lost in the media din.
So, here’s where spin and win become critical.
It doesn’t really matter what you have done, but it’s what you have projected to have done. Whether it’s on television or on social media, Modi and his supporters have positioned themselves for attacking all those who believe that India stands for all Indians, and that the country’s Constitution is a secular one.
In my conversations with many ordinary Gujaratis, it’s clear that Modi’s “development” plank is a code for excluding the minorities and the poor, who don’t figure anywhere in his “aspirational” politics.
The fact that not a single Muslim contested on the BJP ticket in all the 182 seats in the Gujarat state assembly is commentary enough. But just visit any of the Muslim ghettos in the city of Ahmedabad and they will tell you that nobody – not Modi or the BJP – or even the Congress party – are interested in their lives or welfare.
In a House of 182, only two Muslim MLAs (from the Congress party) have been elected. For a state which has a Muslim population of 10 per cent, that’s commentary enough.
After the 2002 killings, Modi has ensured that the politics of polarisation continues as the real text of his development platform. He has played on the fears of the majority and ensured his return to power. By referring to a Muslim Congress leader as Ahmed “Mian” Patel, Modi once again displayed the depths to which he can sink.
But the Congress party has shown itself incapable and inept in rising to the challenge posed by Modi. The party’s refusal to take Modi head on and their obvious tactical failures ensured that the Chief Minister is being allowed to continue his divisive politics.
A senior BJP leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the Congress party had lost the plot on account of poor selection of candidates.
Even with all the media support and the backing of big business, it’s not going to be easy for Modi to carve out a space for himself in India’s national politics.
The country is simply too diverse for a divisive and polarising leader like Modi.
Amit Baruah is an independent, Delhi-based journalist. He is the author of Dateline Islamabad and reported for The Hindu newspaper from Pakistan.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
I wonder why this article and most other articles on Dawn website is full of comments from India. Either Dawn needs to find better readership, or these other people from across the border need to find better things to do in life instead of swamping other nations’ opinions.
Internet is not bound by borders. Dont become another Jinnah.
Because Dawn cares to hear about Indian’s prejudiced opinions that the Indians papers themselves don’t care about.
As an Indian, I read your newspapers, Dawn being one of the best. We have a keen interest in whatever happens in Pakistan and the viewpoints of the people of Pakistan for it affects the long term stability and prosperity of India.
Because seemingly it is more important for them to down others than to uplift their own countrymen, including Muslim Indians. Sad!
Could you answer which part of South Asia has 24 Hours Electricity supply throughout the state including remotest villages ? Which part of South Asia has experienced peace without any curfew for last 10 years ? Which part has shown growth comparable of that of China in Industrial and Agricultural output ? Which part of of South Asia talk about their leader so fondly and come out of their homes to defend their leader(70% of record Voting may be highest in South Asia) ? Where is the leader for whom people ready to sacrifice their life ? Even a little children who only recognize his close family members can recognize Narendra Modi and hail him as his Leader. Grow up Mr. Baruah and keep your words that media is for Modi.
you want to know the name of the state that accomplished all the developmental goals you mentioned atleast 10 years ago?? Kerala… strange that kerala’s chief ministers were not hailed as next prime ministerial candidate for India… is it because they do not speak hindi or do not adhere to the right wing’s view of Hindutva? So stop portraying him as the developmental god because other people have been there done that. Educate yourself
Almost makes me cry for a leader like Modi — why doesn’t he come to the United States — we need him here to improve our US economy and our human rights? Why nobody in the US, UK or EU wants him to enter their countries — why the West treat him like a leper?
Where is the leader for whom people are ready to sacrifice other people’s lives.
“1000 persons, most of them muslims…”
Please check the links below. The first one shows the total casualties in the riots, that were a direct result of the unprovoked Godhra massacre, the second shows the demographic break up of Gujrati society.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4536199.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat#Demographics
Now be kind enough to compare the ratio of victims to perpetrators and tell me exactly how did you conclude that most of the victims were of a particular faith? On the one hand our “secularist intellectuals” such as Mr Baruah harp about how diverse and multicultural India is, and yet on the other hand they seem to completely ignore to factor in our diversity and multiculturalism when it suits them. I’m no Hindutva proponent and I for one hope that all criminals involved in the riots are brought to justice, IRRESPECTIVE of their faith. In the mean time I’d like to see just how the author justifies his point of view. As for the question of “spin and win”, how is it that the “secular” parties and their leaders haven’t been able to employ it to their benefit? I wont mention the point you made by big media houses supporting Modi, the other comments are testimony enough to the general sentiment about that. Baruah ji, no, Baruah (lest the use of “ji” makes me communal),I’m not implying that you are a disgrace to journalism or biased, I’m flat out accusing you. Eagerly awaiting your follow up to this article, I’d like for nothing more than to be proven wrong by you.
A Well respected newspaper like the Dawn must be careful before publishing this kind of crap devoid of facts. The authors like Amit are dime a dozen in India who will see what the editors wanted. The article article is bereft of the facts pertaining to Gujarat and the only spin is his own displayed in this article.
1.Media support for Modi? Inspite of his governance achievements (UN has given awards for Gujarat on governance) the entire english media baits modi for riots when even Supreme court SIT has found no evidence against him. If this is what author says after the SC judgement after SIT, then its simply wilful propoganda.
2.Gujarat muslims in police force is more than their percentage of population which no state has matched.
3. No riots have occured after 2002, the same riots were the consequence of burning of innocent hindus , 59 of them ,including woman and children that the author misses out. In fact there is no differnce between the ghairat brigade of pakistan and pseudo secularists like Amit, both pander to muslim fundementalists.
4.Gujarat is the fastest growing state among the large and prosperious ones, grown rapidly while you are already rich is remarkable.
5.Most of the growth that gujarat has seen is due to modi in the last decade, and his political will have curbed lumpen elements -both hindu and muslim.
6.After the decade of modi bashing the only ones who lost credibility are these Main stream media (which includes this author) and NGO’s. with the advent of social media the isolation of these authors is complete.
Bloggers must surf the internet to know about modi themselves rather than depending on these paid stooges.
Even Muslims in Gujrat want to move on and join development. But as there is war economy, similarly there us ‘ Modi hate’ economy. many of these journo and NGO survive on pathological Modi Hate. There really don’t want Muslims to join in development. Their interest lies in division in society. they need some one to hate. And which media is supporting Modi? NDTV? Hindu? TIO? Which one?? come on Mr Bharuch. Fact is all this gang which live on Modi hate are just not able to digest that Modi is more and more popular.
“They (media) really don’t want Muslims to join in development.”
Unfortunate – isn’t it — especially after Modi has done so much for the Muslims and the Muslim businesses.
Modi has a long way to go. He is hit and fit for PM. He has taken gujarat to great progress. If he becomes PM, he will make India a developed country.
Leave Modi, who else has an easy path to becoming a Prime Minister in India ? No one takes the pain to write such full page articles about anyone else including Rahul Gandhi because they dont stand a chance to be the next PM. The fact is Modi is the acceptable candidate to most of the indians across caste and communal spectrum.
Kaun se duniya mein rahethey hain aap??? The entire media is controlled by the Congress party and is against Mr Modi. What ever the media may say, a lot of Muslims voted for Mr Modi and this is why he has again won the election. In the not too distant future the Muslims of UP & Bihar too will discard the Congress Party and the likes of Mr Mulayam Singh who is nothing but a first class mafia. Once, the Indian Muslims get into the main stream and adopt modern education & technology this country will change and prosper like Gujarat etc.
I’d like to ask Amit a direct question… WHAT CHOICE DO WE HAVE??
1. Rahul Gandhi (Iliterate, mama’s boy, a proven fool who suffers from a severe case of foot-in-the-mouth disease)
2. Mulayam Singh Yadav (a corrupt panderer and a thug-lord, who would stoop to any low to get power)
3. Mayawati (a corrupt panderer, a power hungry narcissist)
4. Sushma Swaraj (possibly corrupt, doesn’t have a pan-indian presence, lacks charisma)
5. Arun Jaitley (possibly corrupt, doesn’t have a pan-indian presence)
6. P Chidambaram (definitely corrupt, proven inept in both home and finance ministries, chief-lackey of madamji)
7. Narendra Modi (polarising, authoritarian sure…. but incorruptible, hard-working, lives a humble life, has certainly developed Gujarat… have friends there who can’t stop singing his praises… so this info is first hand…)
Since 2002, Gujarat has seen 10-yrs of relative peace… which was unheard of earlier… There are educated muslims (including women) who are working under him for the BJP… and his muslims supporters have swelled in the recent elections…
” There are educated muslims (including women) who are working under him (Modi) for the BJP… and his muslims supporters have swelled in the recent elections…”
Have you heard of Stockholm Syndrome?
LOL!… Is that supposed to be a logical argument??… Cos it is devoid of it…
Obviously you haven’t.
gujarat villages have 24 hr electricity but other states even city dont have??
gujarat is one of the small recipient of rain (dry) though its irrigation system make agriculture growth 12% compare to whole india 3.1%
last 5 years 5 automobile companies came to gujarat for factory……!
AWARD WINNING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN AHMEDABAD
MODI HAS DONE THESE THINGS
Gujarat already had these prior to the modi rule..
Don’t lie. Can you show some reports indicating that?
What a joke man………keep it up hahahahahahaha
i pray for Modi to be Indias next PM, he will be the next vallabhai patel known as the iron man of India.
Next Vallabhai Patel? You mean Patel was a butcher of Muslims too?
‘ Modi is a second Vallabahi Patel! ‘ Heaven help us! I remember my Late Father telling me that the reason he decided to emigrate to Pakistan in 1950 after giving ‘ Secular, Socialist India a chance was because of this man and his visceral hatred of Muslims. He knew then that there was no place for him in India. Pakistan, be prepared to accept
Gujarati Muslims. They have no hope in India.