Gujarat: Bereft of fear

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The BJP snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the assembly polls in Gujarat this time. When its defeat in Punjab was washed away by its stupendous victory in Uttar Pradesh, no one complained. Similarly, the BJP’s slender two-digit victory in Gujarat has completely overshadowed its coming to power in Himachal Pradesh. This is the reason why there palpably was no great euphoria among the BJP cadre when the results were out Monday. However, it must be added, the average worker of the BJP with a blocked vision will be incapable of comprehending the serious socio-political message that the voters of Gujarat have sent out to the rest of the country.
Considered the laboratory of Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi for all his ‘vikas’, or so-called developmental governance, the state has shown that the average voter is no more in the grips of fear. That Gujaratis had ushered in the Modi era in Indian politics is a known fact. A state with a Hindoo majority, it had backed the present PM Modi to the hilt when he was that state’s Chief Minister. The riots, killings and mayhem had all been endorsed by the common Gujarati.
Today, a discredited Congress and a political novice of 23 years of age, Hardik Patel, have together made giants such as Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah bite the dust.
For one, the BJP had to fight for every inch to establish a winning margin in constituencies across Gujarat. It tasted defeat in rural areas where discontentment against the government was heavy and deep-rooted, but managed to retain the urban mass base. In the end, the party had to be satisfied with 99 seats — much below its 2012 tally of 119 seats, and not anywhere near the exit poll predictions. This was despite a full-throated campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi who could successfully whip up passions of Gujarati Asmita (pride). The Congress that put up a spirited fight at the hustings gained in strength, but lack of a local face as leader might have been its major drawback.
Notably, the Congress tally rose from 61 in the last polls to 80. Winning a state for the sixth time at a stretch, as the BJP did in Gujarat, was definitely remarkable. But, fact is also that this was made possible by resort to several unhealthy practices, including attempts at religious polarisation. What helped the party snatch victory this time was, among other factors, the role played by former chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela. His distancing from the Congress just months before the polls, formation of the Jan Vikalp Morcha and fielding of candidates proved to be a lethal blow to the Congress. This took out considerable amount of votes from the Congress. Vaghela’s party cut a sorry figure, but the veteran leader succeeded in accomplishing his task of teaching the Congress a lesson for the alleged neglect it showed to him. Likely, the BJP worked behind the curtains to get Vaghela spoil the Congress show. All these are, of course, very ordinary activities during or prior to election time so there is no need to read into Vaghela’s tricks. He has sent himself to political oblivion by such acts.
The Sensex dropping 600 points in the morning, when news of a Congress lead started trickling in, is a hilarious point to ponder. No one is surprised that moneybags across India are betting on the BJP and a slight flutter seems to unnerve the rich and wealthy. This is also an indicator of whose interests this government serves in reality.
Agrarian regions such as Saurashtra turned their back on the ruling BJP and voted massively for what was the only alternative, the Congress. Lack of employment opportunities, farmers’ distress, and the impact of the GST and demonetisation on the poor and disadvantaged sections, besides anti-incumbency feelings turned the masses against the BJP in rural and semi-urban areas.
The average Gujarati, as Gopal Krishna Gandhi has correctly pointed out in his comment, has set herself free from the yoke of fear. The slogan of Amit Shah that his party will win 150 seats in Gujarat has fallen flat simply because the Gujarati voter wished to showcase the fact that in a democracy it is she, the voter, who is the ultimate boss.
This fearlessness of the Gujarati people is bound to infect the rest of the country in 2019.