Narendra Modi is ahead of others

Gujarat goes to poll today. Bhatiya Janata Party (BJP) and particularly Chief Minister Narendra Modi have more at stake than that of the opposition Congress in Gujarat. Gujarat victory would increase BJP’s popularity graph. Modi is fighting not only for retaining power in Gujarat for the third consecutive time but also achieving it with greater margin to back his claim of being the BJP prime ministerial candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections strongly. He is charged with espousing the Hindu cause and pursuing anti-minority policy. There is also the charge against him of orchestrating the worst-ever Gujarat riot. There may be charge against him for giving state patronage to the alleged rioters but on the development front he has kept its tempo. Gujarat has been a developed state for a long time but Modi has carried forward the development measures to their logical end. It is also correct that Narendra Modi is not only the most influential, seasoned and dominant leader of Gujarat but also of BJP at national level. But there are lacunae in his political attitude that goes against him. He is alleged to be dictatorial and authoritarian. He has sidetracked all his rivals within Gujarat BJP during his regime and even compelled some of the veteran state BJP leaders to leave the party and form their own political outfit. Breaking away from the BJP, former Gujarat Chief Minister and towering leader of dominant Patel community Keshu Bhai Patel and alonwith some other senior members has formed Gujarat Parivartan Party that throws challenge to Modi. Keshu Bhai’s unwavering influence on Patel community is a cause for big concern for Chief Minister Narendra Modi. In the absence of any leader of CM Narendra Modi stature in Gujarat Congress who could stand up to him, the chances of party's victory is not only slim but also impossible. Congress Party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Party President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi campaigned strongly in the last leg of the first phase of Gujarat poll. They may have charishma but no organizational backup in the state to translate it into votes. They can pull crowd but it is the responsibility of the workers to turn it into votes. Congress Party has no state leader who could command respect among the workers and raise their morale. Successive defeats have demoralized them. So, in absence of any formidable opponent, the third consecutive victory for BJP in Gujarat under Chief Minister Narendra Modi is a foregone conclusion.