I have been planning this post for a long time. But my laziness to write and Mulayam Singh Yadav's laziness to pull the rug from under the government has caused continuous delay. You see, every time I decide to write on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, I think that the govt will soon fall, every regional party leader is saying so, then why not wait for the announcement before writing all about it.
Anyway, so most probably elections will happen in the later part of 2013 or early 2014. If left to Dr. Manmohan Singh, whose lust for power (or comfort of his chair) is well known, he will delay the outcome to the last minute. But people on the opposite side are already getting restless. Even if the BJP is not saying openly, their candidate is most probably going to one Mr. Narendra Modi, currently the Chief Minister of Gujarat, a prosperous state in the western part of India. From the Indian National Congress would come a trusted scycophant who should be able to put the Gandhi Dynasty above his self and his love for his country. Dr. Manmohan Singh is leading the race, with P. Chidambaram also closing by.
I am however certain that this time around, it is not going to be the race between personalities or parties. For the first time in the Indian History, General Elections shall be contested as one state versus the ruling establishment in New Delhi. And that state is going to be none other than Gujarat.
Gujarat's contribution to the political class in India is well known. It has by and large given the Independent India most of its toughest and strongest leaders. One recalls the like of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Morarji Desai, Lal Krishan Advani, among others. If you read the current position of Prime Minister probables in the BJP, three names, Lal Krishan Advani, Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi all are leaders from Gujarat. One is a Lok Sabha MP, another Rajya Sabha MP and the third the Chief Minister. If you hear any vision from any of the BJP benches for the country, they just point you at Gujarat. As if all the answers to save India from the sloth of Manmohan Govt. lie hidden in Gujarat. Modi, the front runner for the PM's post in the up coming Lok Sabha elections has done quite a good job in delivering growth and good governance. Now he is going around the whole country to tell anyone who is listening (apparently too many people are listening) that what a good place Gujarat is. If you want your state or region to be as good as Gujarat vote for the BJP (or him. No he does not admit his PM ambitions). Gujarat also presents a problem as a state for the ruling government in Delhi. Of all the states in India, Gujarat is doing exceptionally well. This makes the Congress uncomfortable for it cannot stop the growth, but also not acknowledge the development because it is being ruled by the BJP for a decade and more now. It has tried all the tricks in its bag but failed to stop Modi and his brand of politics. Now they have entered a stage of intense paranoia as they see Modi and the development of Gujarat as their major hurdle in getting another shot at the power throne in Delhi. Narendra Modi on his part, plays this to his advantage claiming Gujarat and its people to be the victims of politics of the Central Govt in Delhi.
Every State in India, looking for answers to its problems is looking at Gujarat with awe and jealousy. Every regional leader has the "I might become the Prime Minister one day" thing tucked in his/her sub conscious. So they obviously don't like Modi. Even if Narendra Modi is not made the PM candidate, it will be his agenda that will rule. He is going to be the chief campaigner and their is not a doubt about it. When he does that, he will brandish the Gujarat card. On the other hand, the rest of the leaders of India, sitting in their drawing rooms in Lutyen's Delhi, will play their numbers own game to stop him.
Mark my words Ladies and Gentlemen, the next Lok Sabha elections you see will be fought between Gujarat and New Delhi. And history will be written that day.
Anyway, so most probably elections will happen in the later part of 2013 or early 2014. If left to Dr. Manmohan Singh, whose lust for power (or comfort of his chair) is well known, he will delay the outcome to the last minute. But people on the opposite side are already getting restless. Even if the BJP is not saying openly, their candidate is most probably going to one Mr. Narendra Modi, currently the Chief Minister of Gujarat, a prosperous state in the western part of India. From the Indian National Congress would come a trusted scycophant who should be able to put the Gandhi Dynasty above his self and his love for his country. Dr. Manmohan Singh is leading the race, with P. Chidambaram also closing by.
I am however certain that this time around, it is not going to be the race between personalities or parties. For the first time in the Indian History, General Elections shall be contested as one state versus the ruling establishment in New Delhi. And that state is going to be none other than Gujarat.
Gujarat's contribution to the political class in India is well known. It has by and large given the Independent India most of its toughest and strongest leaders. One recalls the like of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Morarji Desai, Lal Krishan Advani, among others. If you read the current position of Prime Minister probables in the BJP, three names, Lal Krishan Advani, Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi all are leaders from Gujarat. One is a Lok Sabha MP, another Rajya Sabha MP and the third the Chief Minister. If you hear any vision from any of the BJP benches for the country, they just point you at Gujarat. As if all the answers to save India from the sloth of Manmohan Govt. lie hidden in Gujarat. Modi, the front runner for the PM's post in the up coming Lok Sabha elections has done quite a good job in delivering growth and good governance. Now he is going around the whole country to tell anyone who is listening (apparently too many people are listening) that what a good place Gujarat is. If you want your state or region to be as good as Gujarat vote for the BJP (or him. No he does not admit his PM ambitions). Gujarat also presents a problem as a state for the ruling government in Delhi. Of all the states in India, Gujarat is doing exceptionally well. This makes the Congress uncomfortable for it cannot stop the growth, but also not acknowledge the development because it is being ruled by the BJP for a decade and more now. It has tried all the tricks in its bag but failed to stop Modi and his brand of politics. Now they have entered a stage of intense paranoia as they see Modi and the development of Gujarat as their major hurdle in getting another shot at the power throne in Delhi. Narendra Modi on his part, plays this to his advantage claiming Gujarat and its people to be the victims of politics of the Central Govt in Delhi.
Every State in India, looking for answers to its problems is looking at Gujarat with awe and jealousy. Every regional leader has the "I might become the Prime Minister one day" thing tucked in his/her sub conscious. So they obviously don't like Modi. Even if Narendra Modi is not made the PM candidate, it will be his agenda that will rule. He is going to be the chief campaigner and their is not a doubt about it. When he does that, he will brandish the Gujarat card. On the other hand, the rest of the leaders of India, sitting in their drawing rooms in Lutyen's Delhi, will play their numbers own game to stop him.
Mark my words Ladies and Gentlemen, the next Lok Sabha elections you see will be fought between Gujarat and New Delhi. And history will be written that day.
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