Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'It was Modi versus Gandhi in Gujarat' that was published in Newsband

It was Modi versus Gandhi in Gujarat

The Gujarat election campaign concluded on Monday, This campaign was riddled with a string of controversies. There were less talks about Gujarat’s development and more unnecessary talks. The focus was on personalities rather than issues.

This will be a closely fought election, some pollsters have predicted. It is clear that Congress has adopted a soft Hindutva approach considering Rahul Gandhi’s frequent visits to temples.

in the 2014 general election, the Bharatiya Janata Party won almost 60% of the popular vote. In 2012 Assembly election, it won 115 of the 182 seats. Can it can pull this off in the face of a new caste coalition that the Congress has cobbled together, spearheaded by the influential Patidar community?

Modi’s need is dominate in the BJP by retaining his home State and Gandhi’s need is to prove himself as the Congress president. In a constitutional democracy, committed to the rule of law, winning and losing elections is a normal process. But winning at any cost, resorting to unethical and foul means, is a death-knell to democracy.

The elaborate security and logistics infrastructure and pomp and show of the Modi sea plane ride was to give Modi a glamorous look which could beat Gandhi family’s royal look. The Prime Minister flew in a single engine amphibious plane. Such efforts may not impress goddess Ambaji, to which idol he prayed, but they will certainly impress the Gujarat voters.  

One this was clear about Gujarat election campaign. Both Modi and Gandhi went about campaigning in the style of a street hawker who are finding it increasingly difficult to sell their wares.

Gandhi was expected to send the first signal about his leadership qualities by the speed and professionalism with which he constitutes his A-team. Whether he succeeded in doing so, only the election results will tell.  His swiftness in suspending family loyalist Mani Shankar Aiyar was to show the public that he was indeed very decisive and capable of drawing a red line for party persons.

Leadership is vital for the Congress to address its three big challenges: reviving the party organisation; firming up alliances; and formulating a cohesive programme as the main opposition party that is looking for another chance to govern India. With the party ruling in half-a-dozen States and running at third or lower place in big States such as Uttar Pradesh and smaller terrains like Delhi, the challenge is obvious. Congress needs to make clear about its stands on the economy, social inclusion, minority rights, foreign policy, welfare etc. It is not enough just to react to the Modi government or being un-Modi like.