5 polemical points that defined the pitched battle for power in Gujarat
Every Indian election is marked by its share of rhetorical flourishes. It is through polemics that substantial issues are sometimes debated, often skirted. Gujarat 2017 offered its own share of moments and slogans which contributed to the outcome. A look at the five key campaigns:
VIKAS HAS GONE CRAZY
‘Vikas has gone crazy’ (Vikas Gando Thayo Che) started out as a social media slogan and was subsequently appropriated. Inelegant as it may sound in translation, the slogan went viral and was a direct attack on the Gujarat model of development and BJP’s claims of governance. It pushed the BJP on the defensive, before it eventually came up with its own rejoinder — I am Vikas, I am Gujarat.
GABBAR SINGH TAX
Like his 2015 ‘suit boot ki sarkar’ jibe, Rahul Gandhi’s Gabbar Singh Tax description of GST stuck. It resonated with a large section of BJP’s trader base. It also forced BJP to revise GST structure. Urban voting patterns suggest traders remained loyal to BJP. But Rahul’s jibe did point to the stressed economic narrative of the party.
‘NEECH’
Within minutes of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar call- ing Modi a ‘neech’ person, the PM, at a rally, highlighted how Aiyar had called him a lowly person, from a low caste.
This single insult provided the peg to the PM to make an emotional, personalised pitch to the Gujarati electorate about his roots.
He projected himself as a victim of the elite in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi acted swiftly and suspended Aiyar — but the damage was done.
‘MANDIR OR MASJID’
On December 5, the Supreme Court began hearing the Ram Janmabhoomi case. Kapil Sibal argued that the court must postpone the case to middle of 2019.
The BJP was quick to latch on to how a Congress leader was against a resolution of the case, against the construction of the temple, and this represented Congress’ stance.
At a time when Rahul was hopping from temple to temple, the Sibal episode gave BJP ammunition.
AIYAR DINNER CHARGE
PM Modi claimed, at a rally, that a day before Aiyar made his ‘neech’ comment, he hosted a dinner with former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri. This was attended by former PM Manmohan Singh and many others.
Modi insinuated that given right after this dinner, Aiyar had made his comment — and in the past he had alluded to ‘removing’ Modi to improve India-Pakistan ties — did something occur at the dinner?
The hint was obvious — was Congress hand in glove with Pakistan to sabotage BJP in Gujarat, to insult Modi, to even eliminate him.
All those who attended the dinner rejected any discussion on Gujarat took place. But Modi may have succeeded, yet again.