Modi on top in BJP

It was certain that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi after his third consecutive victory in assembly elections would be brought on the centre stage of national politics by the BJP to play the politics of development. BJP moves step by step in regard to his projection as its prime ministerial candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Rajnath Singh’s new team is an exercise in this direction. But BJP must know that his appeal outside Gujarat in previous elections is anything to go by, he can not win as many parliamentary seats as are required by it to form the government and dictate its terms in NDA. Undoubtedly, Modi reigns supreme in the BJP and no other party leaders after Vajpayee-Advani duo can match his popularity graph. Not only Modi was brought in the highest decision making body of the party parliamentary board but also his right hand man Amit Shah, who is facing fake encounter case, has been made General Secretarty. Besides Shah, other Modi loyalists have been made party vice-presidents, secretaries and spokespersons that amply reflect that the BJP totally relies on Modi’s charishma in Lok Sabha elections next year. Though before the next year general elections, Karnataka assembly elections are going to be held on May 5 and BJP president Rajnath Singh's new team strength will be put to test whether they help retain the party power there or not. It would also be seen how the BJP plays out Modi’s development politics in Karnataka elections. Modi's national space will also be tested. By forming the new team, Rajnath Singh has accommodated most of the Modi's acolytes. Narendra Modi has been prefrred to the other BJP chief minister like Shivraj Singh Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh for parliamentary board because of his being the senior most. Undoubtedly, Narendra Modi is the most popular leader of BJP among its cadres and workers. However, how much he is acceptable in other parts of the nation than Gujarat is not clear because of the stigma of Gujarat riot of 2002 stills sticks him. It is correct that Modi has an excellent art of managing the media through which he propagates about the development of Gujarat. By bringing Narendra Modi on the Centre stage, the BJP is also testing waters concerning its allies. One of its oldest allies the JD(U) with which BJP is in coalition government of Nitish Kumar in Bihar has already made it clear that the candidate of the NDA for Prime Minister in 2014 Lok Sabha elections must be of secular credentials, and pleading for the development of backward states. Narendra Modi does not fit in its scheme of things. The moment the BJP formally declares Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the JD(U) would breakaway with NDA. This is coalition era. When Congress despite its presence in length and breadth of the nation cannot form government on its own in the prevailing political scenario, what to talk of BJP which has still not recorded its presence all over the nation. So, Narendra Modi alone can not alone bring the BJP to power.