ADVANI : NAMO'S KESHUBHAI 2.0

It was all like a soft dream, when all cycle of events was broadcasted in television, when news channels aired that advani had problems with Modi’s appointment. Distressed when Pro-Modi slogans were shouted outside Advani’s home. And hopeful when BJP finally decided to bite the bullet and Make modi as chairman of campaign committee. When VHP and RSS poured support to modi. In a sense I feel like Advani, who is the senior most leader of BJP finally becoming a liability for the party. When Advani writes in blog about Hitler, pope , draupati and dritirashtra. Advani in a sense is Keshubhai Patel 2.0, it is my tribute to the tech savvy Modi.

For a hardcore hindutva follower, it is really difficult choosing between two sangh faces Advani and Modi. Advani was poster boy of hindutva is 1990s and Namo, that of 2010s. In 1982, when Bharatiya Janata Party first fought elections it managed to win just 2 seats and after 1998 lok sabha polls it emerged as single largest party and managed to form a coalition government.  The rise of sangh was in such an astonishing speed. The credit largely goes to Advani ji’s Radhyatra of 1990s, which created a space for saffron politics which the ‘so’ called secular parties related to terror. Creation of Ram temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya was top most priority of party, but later dropped and remains as an unfinished propaganda. Anyway, Advani cannot be deleted from the history of sangh parivar.

Advani may have been powerful and unquestionable figure within BJP before 10 years, but the time has change. Now whole story is centralised over a charismatic figure called Narendra Modi. Even Advani saved Namo in 2002 when then PM Atal Bihari Vajpyee decided to remove NaMo from CM’s post due to post-godhra riots. But now whole cycle of events turning from 2002-2013 turns out to be creating hurdles for Advani.

Top leadership will be thinking of Lok sabha polls, I would like to think in another sense, why they are lagging in assembly elections which will happen in five states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajastan, Chattisgarh, Delhi and Maharashtra. If BJP is able to project NaMo and show a united face of sangh they can in fact sweep all 5 states. But factionalism and poor floor management can spoil sangh’s pie.  This factionalism made BJP loose power in 2008 in Rajastan where RSS and BJP was in a tug of war over Vasundhara Raja Scindia’s CM candidature and they are still facing problems in the state. In Delhi, It could be an easy win for Bjp but there is a fair chance that the vote could be divided between BJP and AAP. For winning in a sensitive state like Delhi, BJP needs Namo-magic at this juncture of time.

It is also true that Namo is the most popular leader in the whole nation, have seen his name trending in social Medias whenever he delivers a speech. But why Advini ignores Namo is perhaps due to the Alliance trouble, mainly due to compulsion from JD(U). Advani was not even savvy for topmost job in 1998, when he was the top choice as far as sangh was concerned. He helped Vajpyee to become India’s PM. Alliance trouble may not create trouble for BJP and NDA, even if JD(U) pulls back Modi can bring in parties like AIADMK, TRS, INLD and MNS creating an NDA plus. Even Mamata’s TMC would love to join the alliance to capture Railway ministry.

But the most important factor is that whenever Namo takes a bigger role, he dumps a senior leader, it was Keshubhai patel in Gujarat and is Advani in pan Indica. After succeeding Keshubhai in Gujarat, he shaped the whole GUJARAT DEVELOPMENT STORY. Developed basic infrastructure, electricity supply, uninterrupted water supply and more over e-governance, while Modi created something called  ‘ brand gujarat’. Keshubhai started calling modi a demon and maintained relations with sangh but floated a new part called Gujarat Parivartan Party, which managed to get  mere 2 seats in assembly polls 2013. Later in 2013, its not Keshubhai but L k Advani which is side kicked by NaMO. RSS needs him, VHP needs him, Bhajrang Dal needs him and the whole India is talking about him. Advani has no option but to support and bless him. He will always bear a tag called “PM in waiting”. But for larger interest of party men, supporters and well wishers he have to support BJP’s decision.  If BJP failed to project Modi as PM candidate they will have to sit in opposition cupboard sharing their space with Congress. There is a fair chance for a third front. Many would call it a mirage, but in politics anything can happen, rivals may form alliance and ideological alliances may break. But 2014 is just one year away...........