IIPM: Modi(fy) fast!

Will Narendra Modi make it the third time around as well? Having secured a two-thirds majority in the last Gujarat Assembly elections and steadily maintaining around 8% growth rate during the past five years, the question should have been redundant, but for intra-party squabbles in the BJP.

There is little doubt about Modi’s administrative capabilities. Media has covered his achievements more than

adequately. But his handling of party affairs hasn’t pleased his party colleagues, who accuse him of sidelining almost all prominent leaders in a bid to monopolise state politics. This is the reason why former chief ministers Suresh Mehta, Keshubhai Patel & senior leaders like Kashiram Rana & Dr Vallabhbhai Kathiria to fan discontent in the party. Most of them belonging to sizeable Patel community, are said to be behind the recent show of strength by Patels in Gandhinagar. None of the BJP dissidents attended the rally, but the presence of firebrand VHP general secretary Dr Pravinbhai Togadia, was enough to galva-nise over one lakh activists present there. Togadia told B&E, “VHP is an apolitical organisation and favours any party with a Hindutva agenda." Referring to Modi, he added, "I am sure people would not vote for a tyrannical person”. Patels account for roughly 40% vote & 53 MLAs in the Assembly, of whom 35 belong to the BJP. To aggravate Modi’s agony, another sizeable group, Koli, comprising about 20% of state’s population too have turned their back on him. Modi’s friendturned- rival, Union Textile Minister Shankar Singh Vaghela, has been undertaking foot-marches in various parts of Gujarat, and is confident that Modi would be voted out.

With the Assembly elections only fi ve months away, Modi needs to act fast and reform his style, as the votes and not the growth rate matters in elections.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006

An IIPM and Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Initiative