In states a contest, but at Centre, choice is clear in MP, Chhattisgarh: ‘Modiji, then Yogiji’

However, when it comes to the state, the group is less vociferous: “Yahaan kaante ki takkar hai (The contest is close here).”

In neighbouring Chhattisgarh too, the opinion is as divided along Lok Sabha and Assembly lines: vote for Modi in the general elections next year, but for polls that are coming in days, somewhat undecided.

This marks the continuation of a trend seen for the past nine years, since the Modi-led BJP came to power at the Centre, where the party’s vote share has surged in the Lok Sabha polls in north, central and western India even as its performance has been middling at the state level.

In Patan, the constituency of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel too, the refrain is: ‘Yahaan Bhupesh, wahaan Modi (Here Bhupesh, there – meaning Delhi – Modi)’.

Ask why, and many say “the whole world looks up to Modi”, and that “he has brought the country global prestige”.

Sandeep, a young resident of Tanna tehsil in Madhya Pradesh’s Junnardeo Assembly constituency, says the BJP may lose in the state, but Modi will surely win the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. His reasons are a decline in terror attacks, and the soon-to-be-consecrated Ram temple at Ayodhya.

At place after place over eight days in north Chhattisgarh and Mahakoshal region of MP, one hears this, though reasons may vary. The only exception is Amit Agrawal of Jabalpur, who says the results in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections will determine the course of the Lok Sabha polls.

The rise of Yogi

Another clearly discernible trend both in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is how often the name of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath crops up in casual conversation, mostly while discussing national politics or comparing him with their state’s CM.

Adityanath’s supporters cite his image of being “tough” on law and order – both in the deployment of bulldozers and alleged criminals killed in “encounters”.

If a Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, voter compares BJP candidate Vijay Sharma to Adityanath as a gesture of appreciation – Sharma was an accused in the communal clash here a year ago – another in Patan says that, unlike the local administration that was unresponsive despite it being the CM’s seat, Adityanath would have “rolled out a bulldozer” to teach a lesson to errant officials if it was Uttar Pradesh.

In Jabalpur, the killing of Kanpur gangster Vikas Dubey in an encounter in 2020 – after his gang was involved in a shootout that left several police personnel dead – is still a topic of conversation. Particularly the fact that Dubey was being taken in police custody from Madhya Pradesh back to UP, when the incident happened.

“Yahaan se bach gaya par wahaan gaadi palat gayi (He slipped away from MP, but the vehicle carrying him toppled in UP),” says a Jabalpur resident. The police had claimed Dubey was killed in a bid to escape after the vehicle carrying him met with an accident.

Adityanath comes after Modi, but still before everyone else in the BJP, nationally, in popular imagination.

The preference for Modi is also clear in the number of rallies the PM is holding, with BJP sources saying he will address around 14. In Chhattisgarh, he has already addressed seven, with the second phase still a week away. Adityanath has addressed three-four rallies in Chhattisgarh till now, and the MP BJP is lining up his rallies in the state.

Apart from Modi and Adityanath, prominent BJP star campaigners are Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J P Nadda and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

At the state level, in both Chhattisgarh and MP, it is just Baghel and his BJP counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan who matter. No other name comes up across the two states.

Balraj Patel of Gotegaon Assembly constituency near Narsinghpur in MP sums it up: “Modiji, aur Modi ke baad Yogiji (first Modi, then Yogi)… 100%… There are many leaders, but people everywhere like Yogiji… They brought Lord Ram; we will bring them to power.”