MODI FOR PM
In A column based on his psephological work in the RSS weekly Organiser,G.V.L Narasimha Rao has tried to build a case for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being projected as the BJPs prime ministerial candidate in 2014. Quoting a survey done by him seven months ago and opinion polls carried in several TV channels,Rao says that only charismatic leadership can help propel the BJP to power. In several states where the BJP has made marginal gains,argues Rao,Narendra Modi can be the decisive factor in swinging votes.
These polls show that Modi as the BJPs mascot has the ability to expand the BJPs vote base and appeal,much like Vajpayee did in the 1990s, he says. He adds that projecting Modi would deliver good results for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh,where the party saw a decline in its fortunes.
He claims that this move would also help the BJP to garner enough voteshare to start winning seats in states like Orissa and Haryana,and improve its voteshare in states like Tamil Nadu,Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal to make it an attractive pre-poll alliance partner. He stresses the importance of charismatic leadership for the partys future,and says that merely banking on the sliding fortunes of the Congress will only make it go half the distance in its run for power.
NO RESERVATION
The Organisers editorial this week welcomed the Andhra Pradesh high court judgment striking down sub-quotas for minorities in the state. The editorial goes on to argue that reservations for minorities is unconstitutional. If caste is a reality of India as they claim,then why are they not amending their other religious tenets to suit the cultural realities of India? Why do they cling to their religious diktats on dress,social norms and codes and civil laws? asks the editorial.
It criticises the UPA government and the Planning Commission for its policy of setting aside 15 per cent of all funds earmarked for development for minority-related programmes. This 15 per cent is only the minimum and not a cap,the committee clarified. At a rough estimate,the government will have to earmark Rs 42,000 crore annually during the 12th Five-Year Plan for minority concentrated areas, says the editorial. It urges nationalist parties to protest these moves and identifies the Sonia Gandhi-led NAC as the main mover behind these policies.
PARTY PROBLEMS
The RSS Hindi weekly Panchjanya carried a signed article by former editor Devendra Swarup where he addressed the major issues facing the BJP right now. Swarup first laments that despite the work being done by governments headed by the BJP in various states,it still finds itself at the centre of controversy.
Swarup urges the party to look within for flaws. He cites the recent behaviour of Modi vis-a-vis RSS man Sanjay Joshi. Modi and Sanjay Joshi are both RSS pracharaks so why has Modi taken such an attitude to Joshi? Why did he make Joshis presence at the Mumbai national executive a prestige issue,and make it a matter of media controversy? asks Swarup.
He concludes that while there are many leaders,including CMs,who could be worthy of the PMs post on behalf of the BJP,the party should refrain from declaring a face for the general elections of 2014,and instead elect one if it has the necessary number after the elections.
Compiled by Nistula Hebbar
