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.
Mr. Amit Baruah , you had written this blog only to please the Pakistani public but in this age of internet era , everyone knows the fact. No Indian media had praise modi before election and you are just writing rubbish.
Looks like the write is part of English new channel…who are always after Modi.. simply write against modi & get a rajyashaba seat or some award from Congress govt.. all these English writer are paid by Congress.. we have seen how Bharka Dhutaa & Sagavhi acted in Meera tapes & how they played a daalla role in dealing with leaders of congress party..
Sorry to say this write is stilling not able to see the progress of Gujarati people & now sure if he has visited Gujarat once..
He is writing in Dawn , keeping Pakistani reader happy.
Agree
sorry to spoil ur spin story but i have lived in Gujarat well before modi and its people and state were developed since then thru shear hard work and astute business sense, see the Gujaratis any where in India or abroad and they are flourishing without modi,
2002~ 2012 No riots in Gujrat
But In UP where pseudo secular Govt. is there, many around 5 riots have taken place in 2012 only.
Why
Its actually 9 as per their own police records
For a moment I thought the article was from yet another great Indian patriot Jawed Naqvi! I am certain that had the analysis been from any of the most enlightened breed of columnists I have ever come across it would have been far more balanced. Those gems include Irfan Husain, Nadeem Parcacha, Kamran Shafi, I A Rehman, Cyril Alemida, late Murtaza Razvi, Pervez Hoodbhoy, etc……and NOT the least our own Indians Mr. Jawed Naqvi or Mr. Amit Baruah.
Sorry for stating the facts. You need to learn a bit before you write your opinions as analysis!
Author writes, “since Modi, who presided over the state of Gujarat when about 1,000 persons, most of them Muslims, were slaughtered in 2002,”
It should be corrected to read: In an unfortunate riot , triggered by Godra carnage where 50 Hindus were burnt alive, 1000 people most of them Muslims were killed.
Please do justice to Journalism. People have been reading plethora of articles since year 2002. Don’t try to SPIN the facts.
If modi become even pm or even have ability like indira gandhi this time hard run due to coliation government even leader like vajpeyi feel very discomfertable now the test of modi begin
I don’t understand these writer can see the truth or interested in money or criticizing to be known as critics. Congress uses minorities as if they belongs in their pocket and because their deeds our misguidance and lack of will to educate them has divided our society. Being not educated enough they become victim of their ploy.
If you take my words, in India, its congress lust for power, has created all the problem. But I feel that our society is maturing enough to understand these ploy which writer and congress leader can’t foresee. And mark my word, congress too, will get the same fate what Lalu got in bihar because of same reason..
again the spin repeat a lie till it becomes the truth……the minorities are not in any bodies pocket, see UP, Bihar, West Bengal Kerala…..stop the BJP propaganda
All you Modi haters – grow up. Modi got elected and that’s end of story. There is no law in India that requires Modi to have Muslim candidates. The fact that Modi’s so called Hindu candidates won seats even in Muslim majority areas should tell something. As for Gujarat riots, can we first get some justice for the 4,000s of Sikhs massacred by the Gandhi goons from Congress before we talk abut bringing Midi to justice. Can the government give justice the families of the innocent Hindu women who were burned alive in Godhra? Amit Baruah and his ilk on the left walk around with blinkers and are no one takes them seriously. If anyone cared Modi would not be CM again.
The generalized condemnation that Modi receives from the India media for the past 10 years speaks volume about the egalitarian, secular, rule of law democracy in India — it will keep Modi quarantined as a local Gujarati phenomenon not as an Indian idol.
dream on
Psedo secularists at work again. Dawn should refrain publish such articles with bold letters such as Muslims are the only the victims creates more animosity than Aman.
Which media supported to Mr.Modi ?? None of lot.For your information Muslims having more opportunity compare to any other state in India to grown up them self at every respect.
Can you name which section of the media supported him. I, who read many English newspapers and watch English TV channels, saw nothing but full-throated criticism of Modi. Did I miss something? But reading the comments, I must brand Mr Baruah a liar!
I dunt knw if Modi is capable of becoming PM but am sure that out of the current lot available…he definately is the best choice…
Agree
Media don’t elect a P.M.,people.Now in India majority of people vote with and for their pockets.And since India had a direct election system to elect a P.M.? Does not a party had to have a majority in the lower house of parliament, and the, only then that party picks a candidate to be elected as their and chose as a prime minister? ( Recently it’s with the the help of other parties). Calm down it’s long way to go.
Correction: people do. and then, only then , that party picks a person as their candidate , to elected by the party as the next P. M.?
Looks like the author is relying more on pakistani news channels & other local sources for information. If no he should have known that the so called “pseudo secularists” dominate indian media and they leave no stone unturned in Modi Bashing. But they fail to forget that people are smart enough and they will leave all corners of class & religion to vote for development.
Amit Baruah seems to be enjoying Modi bashing. The media has been hell bent on tarnishing Modi’s image. I as an Indian know how well our media chooses it’s own special person to hype to the core. The fact is simple. Modi defies the media and its calculations and through his honest and corrupt free style of governance delivers the goods to the state. An example is Tata nano project. When Mamata was belligerent, Tata chose Gujarat for his new plant. Tata is an example of a value system. Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador for the state of Gujarat. So, Mr. Amit Baruah, pls tell me these people are biased.
I’m with you 100 % and thank you for your wisdom.
Which “media” has been supporting Modi? It is a miracle that he managed to win a third time despite the media demonizing him for the past ten years.
Mr. Barauh should have pointed out that the official figure of 1000 dead is only half of the official figure provided 10 years ago. The independent figures are much higher than that.
Official figures are 754 Muslims and 258 Hindus and whats wrong in voting for him if he has done incredible job as CM, He has won 9 out of 12 Muslim majority constituency. Gujrat riots are not justifiable but before calling hindu’s mass murderer People should think about the Godhra riots so no one is innocent.
which big media are u talking about.. TOI, NDTV, CNN IBN, Hindu.. non of them support modi..
India will move forward if Modi become the PM, he is a honest, corrupt free politician who works 21 hrs in a day, unlike most of the C-grade nonsense so called leader..
Amit Baruah are not independent Journalists…They are paid one by the so calls secularist. Please check the Muslim’s percentage in the Gujurat state govt officials…. It’s the best among india….
check the Muslims population’s education/percapita income and all compared to other states…There is not even a single communal riots in last 1decade under Mr Modi….This itself a great achievement….
In 2002 what happened is unfortunate…(He had joined just 4months prior to the riots…he had no experience even as a misister)….He handle the state and made the progress of the state nicely…….
Grow up Amit
Out of 9 Muslim majority area’s BJP won 7. This clearly shows, muslim in gujrat know who is best for them.
a very biased article, i wonder if u have been to gujrat
mr modi has yet to go a long way
It should be read as ” Since my arrival in the US, the Americans have elected a wrong man as The President, five times”.
Mr. Modi Have won 48 seat out of 52 seats in Muslim majority areas of gujrat.. he is a great leader!!!!
please dont spread false information there are no 52 Muslim majority seats (areas) in Gujarat….if yes u would be calling it names just as u did to Malapurram…
It’s always happens every where when good people shy away, bad people get in. Like mosquito.We all who live or lived in the Sub Continent have that experience.And I don’t understand why educated, talented people ,businessmen fleeing from West Bengal,and educated, techie and enterprising Kashmiri Muslim young men rushing to Gujarat. Any how Modi is a great divider, not a healer.We, in the Us, since my arrival, have elected wrong person as the President.
can you write in english please