That Narendra Modi, the most divisive, insular, autocratic and polarizing politician we have today, has trumped his detractors in what could be called the semifinals of the 2014 polls so decisively, is a telling example of how the Bharatiya Janata Party is directionless and in cohesive without the diktats from Nagpur and leaves the already-faction-ridden party more vulnerable to leadership tussles.
Another crucial message of Modi being anointed the party’s campaign manager yesterday at the going national executive in Panaji, is that it marks the end of the era of Adavni the senior most BJP leader who along with Vajpayee has for the past four decades made the party where it is today.
It also marks firmly marks journey of Modi to the 7 Race Course Road, as a formal announcement of him being declared the prime ministerial nominee of the National Democratic Alliance, or can we say the BJP alliance as most of the key NDA members including the Shiv Sena, are loathe the idea of Modi as the PM.It is also the formal beginning of a Rahul-Modi campaign for the 2014 general elections, though both the parties may not officially announce such campaign strategy.
Ultimately, this will make the next hustings the most polarized one, going by Modi’s divisive, insular, autocratic ways of functioning as he is the first national leader after Independence to break the Nehruvian mould of tolerance, secularism and democratic values. Yesterday, party president Rajnath Singh, under tremendous pressure from the RSS and pro-Modi camp, anointed Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the chairman of BJP's national campaign committee, which is widely seen as an almost inevitable precursor to naming him the party's PM candidate.
The announcement came at the end of a dramatic three-day conclave, amid media coverage of which was dominated by the absence of party patriarch Advani, but Rajnath Singh claimed the decision was unanimous.
"To prepare for the next elections, I have appointed Modi as the national campaign committee chief," Singh, who was flanked the entire top leadership, except Advani, whose absence had reinforced the fissures within the party on 62-year-old Modi's elevation. However, within minutes of the announcement that puts Modi at the helm of affairs in the party, he tweeted "Spoke to Advaniji on phone. He gave me his blessings. Am honoured and extremely grateful to receive his blessings."
It can be noted that had it not been for Advani, Modi would not have survive the fateful 2002 national executive meet in Goa after the Gujarat carnage, and when the then prime minister AB Vajpayee wanted him to quit.
