| Published on 08-12-2007 In National | | Viewed 1487 times | | Manmohan, Surat, intellectuals and the changing tide |
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| Written by
Girish Nikam | 
It was his first public meeting or a rally in Gujarat ever since he became the Prime Minister. For Dr.Manmohan Singh as well as the Congress Party the challenge was how to project him. In these days of dwindling crowd response, even to the man who is projected as the Gujarat's pride, Narendra Modi, the crowds have started thinning off, would making there be a crowd for Dr.Singh?
Faced with this question, the Congress brains-trust decided that it is best to call these PM's rallies as "intellectuals' meet" restricted to "invitees only". And as expected the first rally here in Surat, on Friday, he addressed another similar rally in Rajkot later in the day, turned out to be disappointing in terms of numbers. No reflection of the presence or otherwise of intellectuals in this bustling, visibly prosperous business-oriented city!
Diamond and Textile capital of India, the "Surtis"( residents of Surat) are too busy going about their daily business of making wealth and no wonder their interest in politics is marginal. With just 48 hours to go for campaigning to end for the Dec.11 polling, there is hardly any visible political activity. The city is remarkably free of buntings and posters and hoardings. In fact more people one talks to, are unaware of the polling date, just four days away.
To create any excitement among such people therefore is not an easy task, though the Prime Minister, in his typical under-stated style tried his level best. From refuting the claims of development by Modi without trying to hurt the famous industrious spirit of the Gujaratis. It was not an easy task, as Surat city itself is a fine example of how well developed the city infrastructure is. I am yet to come across a city of this size in this country, which is not a State capital, but with so many flyovers, making driving here a pleasure. Imagine driving for 10 kms. in the heart of the city without encountering a traffic light!
Though it was not Modi who has been responsible for starting this makeover, everybody here admits he has kept it going.
The Prime Minister in fact said that there has been development in Gujarat there has also been investments, but it just part of the India's growth story.
And he attributed the Gujarat growth story more to what Congress had started in the 1960s and how the industrious people of Gujarat had taken forward.
The challenge before the Congress in urban areas is therefore not easy, as the development is pretty visible. Combined with this visible prosperity and hopes of more to come, and the hindutva mindset among the urban affluent as well as the middle and lower middle class, to break into the Modi vote bank is not easy.
But in Surat it is happening, despite whatever said above. And that is because of Modi himself. Congress has no role to play in this changing mindset, apparently. It was Modi's own, what a local journalist calls as, "pride turning into ego and arrogance", which has resulted in this.
It was here in Surat therefore that one of the staunch BJP leader, Dhirubhai Gajera, coming from a family of diamond traders and real estate dons, felt hurt by Modi's in-accessibility and his preference for industrialists and bureaucrats.
He, a leuva Patel, pushed fellow caste man, and senior and respected leader, Keshubhai Patel, a former Chief Minister to raise the banner of revolt against Modi. The first public show of rebellion was organized in Surat by Gajera in April, and ever since the anti-Modi campaign has grown. It was here in Surat in April, that the Patels openly came out against Modi, and the meet dubbed as a community one, saw Congress and NCP leaders also standing shoulder to shoulder with BJP rebels.
Gajera is now the Congress candidate from Surat (North) and he is all set to upset the Modi applecart in the city. It doesn't help to hurt the sense of pride of the Patels, a congress worker remarked here. Out of five seats in the city, BJP had won four in 2002. Congress is poised now to make it 3-2 in its favour. "if that happens, we will win the State", a hopeful Congress worker remarks, referring to "history"---- whoever wins more two or more seats in Surat will rule the State.
A myth alright, but the Modi myth may just get punctured in Surat, all of his own making.
Now let us see in the rural areas of Gujarat, what is the scene, as this writer travels interiors tomorrow. |
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