On the day of Holi, the festival of colours, the BJP released its first list of candidates for the forthcoming general elections. As expected, a few selections and omissions have been consuming a lot of airtime ever since the list was made public. Most prominently, Amit Shah’s candidature from Gandhinagar ruling out LK Advani’s entry to the Lok Sabha at least. Interestingly this has generated a certain degree of emotional uproar.
When the party preferred Ram Nath Kovind, the incumbent President, to LK Advani as the candidate for the presidential elections and the revival of Ramjanmabhumi chargesheet had sent a clear signal that the senior-most leader’s political career was nearing the sunset. Knocking down of his name from the list has only reinforced the impression.
On a separate note, Amit Shah considered to be a close confidant of PM Modi and has been a trusted colleague from their Gujarat days and more over the former has made BJP virtually an election winning machine. Hence, it’s quite understandable he gets his recognition in the form of befitting executive position. Never know he may even be the political heir to Modi given his track record when it comes to deliver results on tasks assigned to him.
Immediately after assuming charge after 2014 election, it’s observed, BJP has been shy of giving positions of power to old warhorses. Instead they were rehabilitated in Marg Darshak Mandal with practically no role. While this tough decision may have brought an abrupt end to the career of a few stalwarts, yet it has set the expectation right in the sense there has never been a cut over age for retirement not even such convention ever existed thereby denying the elevation of next generation leaders to climb up in the ladder. In fact, succession planning is viewed as a sin or something prohibited in almost all spheres of life in our country. The outcome was a lot hue and cry in the public. Similarly, exclusion of BC Khanduri is raising a few eye brows. One has to wait what is in the store for another veteran Murli Manohar Joshi who was elected from Kanpur in 2014 representing a strong Brahmin face in the most populous state which does not go to any election without caste line being a major consideration. Besides, Menaka Gandhi and Varun not featuring in the list is not far from speculation.
In the Northeast, the footprint of BJP is largely credited with the role played by Himanta Biswa Sarma who defected from the Congress after being insulted by Rahul Gandhi in several occasions, again is a talking point since his name is not appearing in the list. His exclusion has been reasoned out by making him a mascot for the entire region and not just confining to one constituency. It’s quite possible after the Lok Sabha election is concluded, he may enter the parliament through Rajya Sabha if party decides to nurture his aspiration to play a larger role in the National politics. At the moment he has reason to feel not so good about the decision but at the end he has to reconcile the fact he is part of BJP currently!
In Kerala, which has witnessed an unprecedented rise in violence against RSS activists by violent left cadres coupled with Sabrimala row, BJP is expected to make some political capital out of it but one has to keep his fingers crossed on the ultimate outcome and how individual candidate fares. Similarly, Bengal, a lot of drama orchestrated by both sides, the list certainly carries a few names who stand a higher degree of winnability making BJP more relevant in the politically messy eastern state. In Odisha, again BJP is a little confused considering the trade of between treating Naveen Pattnaik as a soft enemy or go all out war against him. The list of 10 candidates for the states are very much in line with expectation particularly nomination of recently inducted Jay Panda and Aparajita Sarangi from BJD and IAS respectively. Jay Panda could not have joined BJP in a more opportune time to insulate his political vulnerability after BJD even targeted his family business interest though seemingly he was in a state of indecision who to go with but after Balakot Air strike he was convinced beyond doubt BJP is the party he must go to. He was rewarded with a ticket for the constituency he was elected in 2014 and continues to engage with people out there even after his eviction from BJD. Time will say if a hugely successful bureaucrat also automatically makes a election winner in the case of Aparajita Sarangi. Any way her win would be a bonus for BJP considering party’s hold on ground.
A few leaders, already declared their unwillingness to take part in the election may be they were able to guess the mood of the selection committee and it reminds the popular quote by legendry cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in the wake of his retirement from the Cricket , “you should leave when you are at your peak ; there should be question WHY is he leaving and not WHEN is he leaving”.
Be it Amit Shah being chosen to defend the party in Gandhi Nagar, Hemamalini from Mathura, Sakshi Maharaj from Unnao or Anant Hegde from Uttara Kanada is a clear indication from the party i.e. winnability is the only criteria regardless what may have been a vice then can be seen as a virtue now.
Another interesting decision to recast Smriti Irani against Rahul Gandhi is widely welcome decision for many quarters who are closely monitoring the preparation for this election. She is again another individual, you may either love or hate her but just can’t ignore her. She did terrible damage to the margin with which Rahul Gandhi traditionally was getting elected.
Overall its an exciting phase for India which is going to vote for those who will govern this great nation for next few years. In the background several growth engines are on; but a lot depends on who takes over the next phase of reforms and development our country is seeking.
Best wishes to every competent and visionary candidate who shares the aspiration of 1.3 billion Indians in 21st century.
Discussion about this post