For thousands of people who will vote in the Lok Sabha poll in Gujarat on April 30, only one name matters — Narendra Modi.
For thousands of people who will vote in the Lok Sabha poll in Gujarat on April 30, issues and candidates are immaterial. For them, only one name matters — Narendra Modi.
But while the CM’s charisma undoubtedly holds sway in the state, will it help the BJP-led NDA get to the magic figure of 272? Gujarat is one of the few states that will add seats to the NDA’s Lok Sabha kitty and, in that sense, Modi is crucial for the party.
The BJP is also banking on Modi to sway opinion in favour of the NDA in other parts of the country, too, having given him a hectic schedule of 200 public meetings.
In Gujarat, Modi is still seen as a strong and efficient administrator and a pro-development chief minister. In constituency after constituency across the state, the refrain among voters is the same: "We will cast our votes for Narendra Modi."
Says Chinmayi Jani, a student from Vadodara, "I don't know about the work done by the BJP M.P. during her tenure, but, because of Modi, I will still vote for the BJP. I see him as the future prime minister of the country."
Dinesh Vanja, a shopkeeper from Bharuch, says, "I am inclined towards the BJP because of the development work done by the Narendra Modi government."
Given his powerful oratory, the BJP is banking heavily on his charisma and has organised around 300 meetings for him across the country. The party has also given him charge of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Daman & Diu for the polls.
Modi’s charisma holds in all sections of society across Gujarat, and analysts feel he has a standing outside the state too. Political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan agrees Modi has a presence and following outside Gujarat. He feels Modi has worked out his strategy well. “Through his public speeches Modi is trying to entice adversaries into a corner and the Congress is playing into his hands,” he said. “Sibal can’t take on Modi. And if Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi respond to him, that means they are giving him equal status, so it’s a piquant situation for them.”
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