#dnaEdit: Reality check

As the Narendra Modi-led dispensation prepares to celebrate its first year in office, the government and the top echelons of the party are gearing to go to town with their achievements. But the mood in sections of the party and affiliate RSS organisations of the Sangh Parivar does not appear to be celebratory. Rather, it is cautious and  sceptical. At the parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday, Bharat Singh, BJP MP from Ballia in UP, aired his complaint that no one listens to him, either at the Centre or at the state. Singh was greeted with approval by many other members at the meeting. 

This is the first time that dissent has breached the barrier of silence that has reigned within the party since it’s impressive victory in last year’s Lok Sabha elections. Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thought present at the meeting, maintained silence. It may be presumed from the sequence at the meeting that the Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues expect the MPs to help in projecting the accomplishments of the one-year-old government, besides pushing the government’s legislative business in Parliament. 

However, it is almost a one way street with the MPs not being treated as an integral part of governance. Worse, they are expected to do the bidding of the government without being listened to. It seems that the ministers at the meeting instructed the MPs on how to go about helping the government. Exasperated at being talked down to, Singh pointed out that no development work was actually being done on the ground. Not an inch of road has been constructed under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, Singh told the meeting.

Clearly, his is not a voice in wilderness. Recently, the former BJP minister and fiery fellow-traveller Arun Shourie lashed out at the Modi government as well as at the party led by president Amit Shah. Shourie said that the rule of the triumvirate Modi, Shah and finance minister Arun Jaitley dominating the show, has created an atmosphere of fear within the party. It may be argued that Shourie is a maverick and his words are a reflection of his personal dissatisfaction and anger. It may even be argued that Shourie does not speak for the majority. 

However, let’s remember that Shourie does have his sources within the BJP. He is also heard with respect by people who matter in the RSS. While Shourie reflects the mood among the influential sections of the Sangh Parivar, Singh represents the popular mood in the party and among its rank and file. The MP is the link between the party and the government. The elected representatives have their ear to the ground. The people do not appear to be as optimistic about the BJP as they were when they voted the party to power last May. That is the message that Singh’s reproach and Shourie’s denunciation seem to convey to the party leadership.

The BJP has the image of a disciplined party and it is not known to encourage differences of opinion, open debate and dissension in any form. But even in a closed party like the BJP, one cannot ignore the pressure of public opinion. Regardless of public posturing by leaders, the Sangh Parivar has enough scepticism about the government’s amendments to the land acquisition bill. The BJP cannot afford to ignore these warning signals. 

As the euphoria of the 2014 victory recedes, Modi and his colleagues in the government, and Shah helming the party, will have to grapple with that imponderable thing called popular mood and public image.  The moment of electoral triumph has passed. It is the moment of reality check.