Even if Modi had, it slipped off briefly, allowing, for the first time, his compassionate self to get the better of his other known faces.
NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi wore no mask on Monday. Even if he had, it slipped off briefly, allowing, for the first time, his compassionate self to get the better of his other known faces.
And it came at no ordinary moment, but in his biggest moment of glory, and that too among his own people. While addressing the newly elected legislators on Monday, who had just coroneted him chief minister for the third time in a row, Modi became emotionally choked, frequently speechless, with tears rolling down his cheeks.
He apparently realises that even in his hour of triumph, he is both a hero and a villain. The Sunday verdict has proved that he has grown taller than the rest of his peers and perhaps even the party, and hence showing signs of humility and expressing servitude to the party could be his best bet for the moment. No wonder then that less than 24 hours after the mandate, he is already showing signs of mellowing down.
Both BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders in Ahmedabad, including political leaders from all hues, are busy making a psycho-analysis of the man.
Is he reinventing himself, or is it mere posturing? An almost unanimous verdict in the Parivar seemed to be that he was making a belated but conscious attempt towards image correction, at the very least combating the perception that he is a self-centric politician who cares a boot for the organisation that nurtured him.
A close associate of Modi told DNA: “We may all just prove to be wrong. Modi is changing. These elections and the resounding nature of mandate have perhaps taught him too many lessons. We got an early sign of his brand enhancement today, and should expect more in the future.
He has his task cut out for him — make himself a big asset for the party’s PM candidate Advani and play the role of king maker and a charioteer for him. If he is successful and in the process and wins friends for himself by appearing to be more compassionate and accommodative than he is perceived to be, it will stand him in very good stead in the future.”
Modi now has to write a fresh chapter. He has to win as many seats possible for the party in next parliamentary elections, emerge as the prime campaigner elsewhere and initiate a policy in his home state that is seen to be all inclusive, particularly with regard to the Muslim community, a senior party leader said.
This is an era of coalition politics. Brand Modi is alright, but it has to be modified to make it saleable to the present and future allies of the NDA, he added.
Modi’s public address after declaration of results on Sunday was in Hindi, and he spoke about “justice and compassion”. He broke down while responding to accusations that he had grown taller than the party.
It was rare to see a man, whose image makers had developed a cult of fiery iron clad leader around him, telling his audience that he is an ordinary worker who has been made big by the ideology and the organisation he belongs to.
“If a child rides on the shoulder of his father, does he become taller than him, or simply looks taller just because he is sitting on someone’s shoulder? How can I be taller than my party?
My party is like a mother and I have a huge family. This could not have been possible without the immense sacrifices made by lakhs of people since decades.”
A senior central party leader confided: “This time we are getting right indications from him. He has to change. We are positive about him.”
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