As Nitish Kumar flags off the rath yatra at JP's birthplace, there is not even a trace of doubt that this is Advani's swan song. That he will have to abandon his life-long ambition of Prime Ministership was made clear from Nagpur. It took him a brief meeting with the RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat to describe himself as a 'humble worker' of the party, who has been awarded with more than the prime ministership in his long political career. The message is loud and clear: the torch bearer of the BJP old guard has been announced retired hurt even before the race for prime ministership properly began.
The game is far from being over, though. The UPA has offered the ailing BJP a golden opportunity to rejuvenate. 11 Ashoka Road isn't letting it go. The very idea of an interim election, that would have sounded completely out of place even a year ago, is putting Viagra in the BJP's political barometer. And the internal race began.
Has Mr. Modi started his sprint a bit too early? His Sadbhavna fast did not last for the specified 72 hours but he managed to get the attention he badly needed. The statement is made: he's very much in the race. But will that scare away the non-hardliner voters? Mr. Modi is perceived as the man behind the Gujarat riot by most of the non-committed BJP voters. He faces some steep opposition even inside BJP and of course in NDA. Don't forget Nitish Kumar. Would the majority of Indian voters, who'd have otherwise liked to throw the UPA away, be scared to see Mr. Modi as the PM and hence shy away from voting for BJP? Can Congress ride on the anti-Modi vote consolidation?
Nagpur would not take that possibility lightly. It hasn't, either. Sushma Swaraj made it pretty clear that the party sees Modi as the successful Gujarat CM, and not as the future PM. Mohan Bhagwat hasn't uttered a word about Modi's candidature. Despite all the speculations about an interim election, there has been no announcement about the prime ministrial candidate of the party.
Signals are quite clear. As successful as he has been, the road towards the coveted position is rather difficult for Modi.
Should we count on dark horses?
Mr. Jetley wouldn't mind.
The game is far from being over, though. The UPA has offered the ailing BJP a golden opportunity to rejuvenate. 11 Ashoka Road isn't letting it go. The very idea of an interim election, that would have sounded completely out of place even a year ago, is putting Viagra in the BJP's political barometer. And the internal race began.
Has Mr. Modi started his sprint a bit too early? His Sadbhavna fast did not last for the specified 72 hours but he managed to get the attention he badly needed. The statement is made: he's very much in the race. But will that scare away the non-hardliner voters? Mr. Modi is perceived as the man behind the Gujarat riot by most of the non-committed BJP voters. He faces some steep opposition even inside BJP and of course in NDA. Don't forget Nitish Kumar. Would the majority of Indian voters, who'd have otherwise liked to throw the UPA away, be scared to see Mr. Modi as the PM and hence shy away from voting for BJP? Can Congress ride on the anti-Modi vote consolidation?
Nagpur would not take that possibility lightly. It hasn't, either. Sushma Swaraj made it pretty clear that the party sees Modi as the successful Gujarat CM, and not as the future PM. Mohan Bhagwat hasn't uttered a word about Modi's candidature. Despite all the speculations about an interim election, there has been no announcement about the prime ministrial candidate of the party.
Signals are quite clear. As successful as he has been, the road towards the coveted position is rather difficult for Modi.
Should we count on dark horses?
Mr. Jetley wouldn't mind.
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