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Journalism of Courage
Today when Narendra Modi was finally sworn in as Chief Minister, second time in two years, there were no speeches, no rhetoric. There was just an abundance of colour, primarily saffron, in a sea of humanity, and just one star that stood out in a constellation.
And nothing could detract from his moment of glory. Not the VVIPs crowding the four stages at Sardar Patel Stadium, nor the boisterous crowds. Amidst slogans, patriotic songs and children waving flags — with the backdrop of the stadium walls painted in the colours of the tricolour — the swearing-in ceremony was over in 20 minutes.
Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari administered the oath of office to Modi and his team.
Modi took the oath after 1.58 p.m, according to the auspicious ‘pushya nakshatra’, speaking in Gujarati. He then touched the feet of the BJP bigwigs, seeking their blessings, and then went to the stage where 40-odd sants were seated to do the same.
And like the captain of a victorious team, he followed this up with a victory lap in an open jeep, cheered by the crowds. The jostling multitude broke through security fences, giving the security personnel some anxious moments. Some banners in the crowd read ‘Narendra Modi today CM, then PM of Hindu Rashtra.’
If Congress leaders were missing and the minorities stayed away, underlining the fissures in both the political and social texture of the state that the riots and a communally surcharged campaign had created, today no one seemed willing to be distracted or disturbed.
At least in one area Modi seemed to have made an effort to reach out to his rivals — within his own party. His 15-member team, which was described as a ‘‘token ministry’’ had representations from all groups — there are six Patels, for instance — indicating a mood of reconciliation.
And all the factions, at least for today, presented a united front. From Keshubhai Patel to former chief minister Suresh Mehta, who lost in the election, and Haren Pandya who was denied a ticket — everybody who mattered in the party was present.
Sharing the dais with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Deputy PM L K Advani were Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and party chief Venkaiah Naidu.
Among chief ministers, conspicuous by her presence was BJP’s new-found ally AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha, who was visiting Gujarat for the first time. Significantly, TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, whom apparently New Delhi is now cold-shouldering, didn’t attend. Chief Ministers of Haryana, Jharkhand and Goa were, however, present.
In the VVIP crowd were industrialists like Anil Ambani, film stars, including Vinod Khanna, who is also a Central minister, Juhi Chawla, Shekhar Suman, and a host of saints and BJP functionaries from all over the country.
Modi’s ministry is small to begin with — there are nine cabinet ministers and six ministers of state. Retained in the Cabinet are Ashok Bhatt, Anandiben Patel, Narottam Patel, Kaushik Patel and I K Jadeja.
There are three new faces among ministers of state, including Amit Shah, who won with the highest margin from Sarkhej, Saurabh Patel, who is son-in-law of late Dhirubhai Ambani’s brother, Ramaniklal Ambani, and industrialist Anil Patel. The portfolios will be allocated after a Cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday morning before Modi leaves for New Delhi to take part in the BJP’s two-day national executive meeting.
In a bid to please the Patels and their leader, Keshubhai, Modi has selected six from the community. While two members each will represent Jains and Kshatriyas, the rest include an adivasi, a Dalit a Brahmin and two from the OBCs.
The Cabinet ministers include: Vajubhai Vala (Rajkot-I), Ashok Bhatt (Khadia), Narottam Patel (Choryasi), Anandiben Patel (Patan), Bhupendrasinh Chudasma (Dholka), Kaushik Patel (Shahpur), I K Jadeja (Dhangadhara), Ramanlal Vora (Idar) and Mangubhai Patel (Navsari). The ministers of state are: Amit Shah (Sarkhej), Saurabh Dalal (Botad), Dilip V Thakore (Sami-Harij), Bhanku N Undhad (Babra), Anil T Patel (Mehsana) and Prabhatsinh Chauhan (Kaalol).
What can cause resentment is the regional imbalance. Central Gujarat that bore the brunt of the violence and from where the BJP gained most is represented by only one minister. Vadodara and Dahod elected all BJP MLAs but have no representation. It’s the same story with Anand and Kheda where the BJP won 12 out of 17 seats. The largest district of Kutch, too, has gone unrepresented.
On the other hand, nine ministers are from North Gujarat, five of them from Ahmedabad district. Saurashtra will be represented by four ministers, including the Ambani kin. Narottam Patel and Mangubhai Patel from Chorasi and Navsari, both in South Gujarat, have found favour with Modi; both have been ministers earlier. The Chorasi MLA is considered close to South Gujarat heavyweight Kashiram Rana.
Three former ministers included in the Cabinet are: Vajubhai Vala, who had vacated his Rajkot (II) seat to facilitate Modi’s election as Chief Minister, and Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, who was chairman of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigma Limited, and Ramanbhai Vora. Modi wanted to make Vala the Speaker but Keshubhai intervened and got him a ministry.
Of the 15, eight were ministers in the last ministry. These were Ashok Bhatt as health minister, Narottam Patel as water supplies minister, Anandiben Patel as education minister, I K Jadeja as urban development minister, Kaushik Patel as energy minister, Prabhatsinh Chauhan as minister of state for tourism, Dilip Thakore as minister of state for prohibition and excise and Bhavku N Undhad as minister of state for petrochemicals and ports.
