’Modi hijacks voters and media. Seniors are scared’

Say BJP insiders, explaining why the leader is being sidelined in the Jharkhand poll campaign

'Modi hijacks voters and media. Seniors are scared'

Say BJP insiders, explaining why the leader is being sidelined in the Jharkhand poll campaign

Narendra Modi's most powerful enemy, his charisma, is acting up once more. Time and again his colleagues have felt threatened by his magnetism, which they complain often shift the limelight away from the party to him.

Maybe that is why the saffron strongman, used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to draw crowds in poll-bound states, is being almost ignored in Jharkhand.

Interestingly, Modi, who is more popular in urban areas, is arriving in Jharkhand today to address voters in two nondescript constituencies Bermo and Jamua which are scheduled to vote on December 8. He will be addressing two public meetings today. In Delhi, Modi had addressed about a dozen rallies in a day!

Apart from media queries, even party insiders have been questioning this sudden turn of policies. "The BJP has used Modi as a principal campaigner in all Assembly elections, including in Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra. But it is surprising he has not been invited to Jharkhand," said a state BJP leader, requesting anonymity.

Limelight trouble

Political analysts say infighting within the BJP has led to Modi's exclusion from Jharkhand poll campaign. "Party leaders are aware of Modi's charisma. He is more popular than many senior party leaders and if he is pitched along with them, his popularity quotient may rub others the wrong way. They do not want to give him credit outside Gujarat. If he arrives at a rally, he hijacks not only the crowd's attention but the media focus too," said a BJP leader, wishing anonymity.

While senior BJP leaders like LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Shatrughan Sinha, Raman Singh, Venkaiah Naidu and Sushil Kumar Modi have campaigned in Jharkhand, Modi, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, considered top among the second rung leadership, didn't appear for any political meeting in the state during the first and second phases of polling.

The party has also kept Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan away from campaign, reportedly because of his recent controversial remarks against the people of Bihar.

Divide and rule?

Party insiders also feel Modi's presence generates strong communal feelings among voters and BJP wants to avoid towing that line in Jharkhand.

"Some candidates in Jharkhand are worried if Modi arrives to campaign, voters will be divided along communal lines. This time, the poll issues are corruption and underdevelopment of the state. If Modi joins the campaign, chances of polarization of vote on communal lines are very high. We feel inviting him may backfire rather than benefit us," said Rajesh Singh, a BJP worker.

A senior state leader added, "It's not the local candidates alone who are scared of Modi and are trying to keep him away. Even senior leaders are involved in this plan. The state sends request for its star poll campaigners after mutual understating with the party bosses. So, this is fallout of internal politics," said an RSS leader, requesting anonymity.

'Nitish's rules'

Interestingly, another faction in the BJP argues Bihar Chief Minister had a prominent role to play in sidelining Modi.

"During the Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar had rejected the BJP's idea of inviting Modi for campaigning in the state. And he proved himself right by winning a majority of seats in Bihar. In Jharkhand, the BJP is in an alliance with Kumar's JD(U). So, it is also possible Nitish had his way and kept Modi out," said a political analyst.

Though Modi is scheduled to address meetings today, they may be cancelled in view of the bandh call by Naxals. "Till Modi comes and addresses a public meeting, we can't say anything," said a local party leader.

Jharkhand votes on
Phase I: November 27
Phase II: December 2
Phase III: December 8
Phase IV: December 12
Phase V: December 18

The Other Side
BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Sunday, "Modi will address two public meetings in Jharkhand tomorrow."

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels