I-day,my day

Modis campaign speech after hoisting the tri-colour is a forecast of rough political weather ahead.

Modis campaign speech after hoisting the tri-colour is a forecast of rough political weather ahead.

It is not that speeches on Independence Day,made by the prime minister or by chief ministers,are entirely above-the-fray and apolitical. In his speech,Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,for instance,underlined his demand for special status in a way that could be construed as a signal to the Congress in an election year. Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs allusion to narrow and sectarian ideologies seemed directly pointed at the BJP. Yet,Narendra Modis I-day speech,from a college podium in Kutch,stood out for its audacious political choreography. On Thursday,Modi spoke not as a chief minister addressing the people of his state on a solemn national occasion,but as the BJPs campaign chief and presumptive PM candidate,using the visibility of the moment to tackle his political opponent. Modi has given ample warning earlier that,in terms of style and content,he is not the conventional political challenger. Even so,in making Independence Day the setting for a bare-faced election speech,Modi has crossed a line. He may have also set the stage for a campaign for 2014 that promises,or threatens,to be more aggressive and abrasive than those that have gone before.

Modi taunted the PM for his uninspiring leadership,his alleged allegiance to the Congresss first family,and for this being his last I-day speech. He targeted him on account of the leaders he named for their contribution to the nation,and for those he didnt. He compared the PMs speech unfavourably with the presidents,on Pakistan and corruption. And challenged him to a Delhi versus Gujarat duel on their development records. At the end of it,though Modi also laid out political and policy disagreements on issues like national security and the food security bill,in its thrust and tenor,his speech discomfited not just his target,the Congress,but also his party senior,L.K. Advani. There is need for people to be aware of Indias unlimited possibilities on this day without criticising one another,said Advani.

Advanis implied rebuke to Modi bears another message and a reality check for all those entranced by the image of Modi versus Manmohan. Modis candidature for PM is not yet certain,even in his own party. Also,the 2014 battle is teeming with ambitious players and wannabe PMs,agendas and interests. But his masterful choreography of his own march towards Delhi,as showcased on Thursday,sends out a challenge to all the contestants that they will need to take into account and step up to.