I don’t dream of PM’s chair: What was Modi’s real message to BJP? , Rahul Ghanghi, Narendra Modi,BJP, Congress, PM , latest news updates, Rajasthan, rajasthan news, political news updates, Indian politics.

I don’t dream of PM’s chair: What was Modi’s real message to BJP? 

It could well have been an innocent remark. But in politics things are usually not as innocent as they appear to be, least of all when it concerns Narendra Modi. This is not the first time that Modi has stated that he does not aspire to grab a particular position or dream of becoming something.

His standard reply to questions on his Prime Ministerial aspirations has always been that his mantra is to keep doing something worthwhile.

Yet, what he said at a teacher’s day award function on Thursday was different from his own stock answer. A lot is being read into Modi's statement in Gujarat: PTI A lot is being read into Modi’s statement in Gujarat: PTI A question and answer session with the chief minister does not happen without some degree of thought, that too when the event is open to media and is to be televised. When he expects to become Prime Minister was a completely expected and natural question from the students.

“Those who dream of becoming something end up destroying themselves. One should not dream of becoming something, but one should dream of doing something….I never see such dreams (of becoming PM), nor am I going to see such dreams. People of Gujarat have given me a mandate to serve them till 2017 and I have to do this with my full strength,” Modi said, speaking in Gujarati. Two sentences stand out. That those who dream of becoming something end up destroying themselves and the mention of when the date his present term in Gujarat ends.

These statements have aroused a great deal of interest and are being interpreted both within and outside of the BJP. On the surface of it, Modi was simply stating facts. But the Gujarat Chief Minister has carved a different niche and built a persona for himself that is not so humble and not so afraid of talking about being in the driving seat. He did so just over a fortnight ago, on 15 August, directly challenging the Prime Minister and breaking away from the convention of abiding by the unwritten political protocol of Independence Day.

He spoke authoritatively at various business meets, the chief ministers’ meet, at his interactions with students at SRCC, his recent public rally in Hyderabad and more. Why is he suddenly recalling his mandate to serve Gujarat till 2017, when an overwhelming section of people in Gujarat and outside are questioning him about being “Bada Pradhan”? The response is even more curious for two reasons: One, it comes two days after suspended cop DG Vanjara’s explosive ten-page resignation letter targeting Modi and trusted colleague Amit Shah.

Though senior BJP leaders told Firstpost that it would have no bearing on Modi’s position as the party was convinced that it was a result of manipulative politics, the fact remains that Modi still does not have a free hand to make the party’s organizational machinery war-worthy for actual combat with the Congress. Also, the issue of his formal anointment as the party’s prime ministerial candidate has not been clinched.

Two, it comes when the party central leadership and the RSS are actively discussing Modi’s formal anointment as the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate. Modi’s apparently innocent statements put the spotlight on the most important factor for the BJP right now — there is still no unanimity on the timing of the formal announcement, even if there is no conflict on his de-facto status as the face of the BJP’s 2014 campaign.

There are active efforts being made by key Modi supporters such as Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu to have Modi officially announced as the Prime Ministerial nominee of the party before the poll schedule of five assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Delhi are declared. However there are others like LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj who have reservations on rushing through with an announcement of this nature. AP AP While an announcement may appear to be a formality, given the mobilization already there for him on the ground, the truth is also that an official announcement will give him more authority than the party president, at least on issues relating to electoral preparedness and approach to issues. And besides, maneuvering with potential allies may become complex once his name is formally announced.

Meanwhile, RSS’s Number two Bhaiyaji Joshi has met Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh and other senior leaders to build a consensus on the issue. A twist in the tale came from an unexpected quarter. A senior leader told Firstpost that consequent to Bhaiyaji Joshi’s meeting with senior leaders in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and argued that Modi’s formal anointment should be withheld at least till this round of assembly elections is over. He had reportedly said that he did not want a polarization of 2014 parliamentary polls happening in 2013 assembly poll in his state, Madhya Pradesh. The BJP is directly pitted against the Congress in the state, which is lately trying to present a united face and has held two unity rallies, projecting Jyotiraditya Scindia as the face of the Congress’s campaign.

In all states that are going to the polls in this round, there is no third political force. A hostile vote by the Muslim community will only benefit Congress. Chouhan has a valid point. A poor showing by the BJP in the Assembly polls could somewhat puncture Modi’s hype as PM challenger. As the internal churning continues, ahead of the RSS-BJP coordination meeting on September 8 and 9, Modi may just have sent a message to those who would matter that he cannot be taken for granted.

source:http://www.firstpost.com/politics

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