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Elections 2012: Gujarat votes for the personality cult, devp

Leena Misra

Posted: Dec 20, 2012 at 1240 hrs IST
Narendra Modi's development agenda has won the day for the BJP in Gujarat. (Reuters)

Ahmedabad 2012 Gujarat seems to have voted clearly - this way or that - rejecting a third force and accepting the development plank. The verdict showed that Gujaratis were ready to take the inclusive growth story forward, and they did not mind taking along brave leaders like Keshubhai Patel. Chief minister Narendra Modi development model and Gujarati asmita seemed to have sold hugely well, clearing the way for the 2014 battle, with Modi as the BJP's PM candidate.

Over all, Gujarat had voted hugely for the personality cult, be it Narendra Modi, Keshubhai Patel, Shankersinh Vaghela, NCP's Kandhal Jadeja, (son of late Godmother Santokben Jadeja) or Purshottam Solanki who has been accused of a Rs 400 crore fisheries scam.

Live Updates: Assembly elections 2012

However, an interesting aspect emerging in the forthcoming Gujarat assembly is the decimation of the Congress' state leadership but overall acceptance of the party. State Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia, legislature party leader Shaktisinh Gohil and even Siddharth Patel were losing badly to the BJP. Though Shankersinh Vaghela leads with a low margin, the state assembly's opposition is beginning to look 'RSS powered'.

Gujarat Assembly Elections D-day

For Modi, just crossing the 117 mark is a victory that will make him chief minister a third time, but all is not lost for the Congress which had a seat sharing alliance with NCP on 7 seats and did not put up a candidate against Keshubhai Patel in Visavadar. So, in all the Congress was leading on 58 of 174 seats where it put up candidates. In 2007 NCP had won three seats of 10 that they had fielded as part of the pre-poll alliance with the Congress.

Trends show that Gujaratis voted heavily for Narendra Modi's development model, but did not reject the Congress's dream home altogether.

The defeat of Kanubhai Kalsaria is a case in point. As a BJP MLA-turned-activist, he led a successful movement against the Nirma cement plant in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar but lost at the electoral post. His outfit, Sadbhavana Manch had set up five candidates on the coastline constituencies. A vindication of the development model is the trend that BJP was leading or winning areas covered by Special Economic Zones.

However, the party saw some upsets like ministers Dileep Sanghani (Amreli), Praful Patel (Himmatnagar), Fakirbhai Vaghela (Vadgam) and Jayanarayan Vyas (Sidhpur), who lost.

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Congress's Ram Naam Satya Hai by Varin on 20 Dec 2012

Gujrat results have given befitting reply and burial to those who kept denying development in the state. Besides sustained attack on Mr.Modi and BJP by Congress, its stooges and agents, people of Gujrat has buried those who described Modi as " Merchant of Death, Lahu Purish, Monkey and Godse etc." Nevertheless, vitory in Democracy should be acknowledged instead taking detours.

elections 2012. by P.V.Namjoshi on 20 Dec 2012

Shame to BJP, the moment Modi won the elections it disowned his candidature for PM ship saying that there are several competent candidates with it for such post. An agriculturalist that ripe bumper crop dump it in the cold store. Let BJP also dump such aspirants in cold storage. In fact BJP is also caste based party like any other party. That is why without taking people in confidence supported the Bill for out of turn reservation for SC-ST classes. Since it is in need of Muslim votes it supports Nitish Kumar in comparison to Modi as in Bihar and UP Muslims are deciding factor. In spite defeat in UP, Bihar and Gujarat Congress has not changed its stand and said that Rahul is his leader. BJP has become double mouthed party and cannot be believed. BJP is suffering from intra-party warfare hence it will not get majority in 2014 elections. People have clear cut doubt that it is Congress and BJP that shared scams

Elections 2012. by P.V.Namjoshi on 20 Dec 2012

Modi%u2019s success. IF BJP would have fought in Gujarat it could bite dust t the hands of Congress. It was only Modi who could show good performance. And it is because of him he could again come to power. It is his individual success. Several congratulations to Modi on his success. Kheshubhai the then BJP CM had yet lust for power and CM ship and after separating from it formed new party but could not get even few seats. An old man is not recognized as head of the family after certain age but Keshubhai was blind just like Dhrutarastra for lust of power. Congress failed to take benefit out of him in defeating Modi. In Himachal Pradesh it was Congress that defeated BJP. Congratulations to the voters of Himachal Pradesh who by voting congress approved different types of scams, corruption, high rise in prices, inflation costly LPG and so on.

BIG VICTORY? by TheThinker on 20 Dec 2012

gujarat polls were all about Modi. and he won. the congress dint even have a leader to project. yet, if the rational observer neutrally sees it, modi and bjp have been contained in the same number of seats 117-120 . while congress , out of power since 1995 in gujarat, has once3 again, won the same seats as last two polls, 54-58. In spite of the modi propaganda juggernaut and all television chatter of anti-congressism, doesnt this seem strange? and look at himachal. another BJP govt brought down single handedly from 43 seats of 2007 polls, to a meagre 26 this time, by just mr. virbhadra singh. mr. dhumal had also , like his mentor Modi, done a great publicity blitskreig and attacked mr. VBS using the latest indian tamasha, corruption.... but mr. VBS singly ripped apart BJP. question is, in 2007, bjp won guj by same seats and wrested HP. this time, inspite of biiger more vicious campaign.MODI wins same seats in guj, while HP is swept away by cong. what is the indication?

GUJERAT ELECTIONS by sadakchap on 20 Dec 2012

The trend that has emerged is that the gujerati voter is aware of the development work done by Narendra Modi. Every chief minister has an opportunity to develop his state but in many of the congress ruled states the develoment consists of pleasing the congress bosses. To progress, a little authoritarianism is required. But the average voter is intelligent; he ways the pros and cons of all issues. To attribute Modis victory to any other factor, is insulting the gujerati.

MODITVA by Vindhyesh on 20 Dec 2012

HOW TO DEFEAT MODI ? By PROPAGANDA 1. Modi is mass murderer kills crores and crores of Muslims everyday. 2. There is fantastic development in Gujarat but it is only because of previous Congress Govt policies in Gujarat. 3. Gujarat is underdeveloped because of corrupt Modi. 4. Gujarat is fabulously developed because Gujarati are smart businessmen and development of Gujarat has nothing to do with Modi. 5. Gujarat is really backwards because of useless lazy incompetent Modi. 6.Modi does not have Visa of USA. 7. Modi is against Muslims because he is helping USA to save their economy. 8. Modi is No.1 enemy of SECULAR Pakistan who is our elder brother. 9. Modi do not allow Secular LeT and Taliban workers to enter Gujarat to plant and explode bombs in residential or commercial areas. 10 Modi killed Lashkar man SOHRABUDDIN who was friend of Madam Sonia and also killed Lashkar female Ishrat Jahan and that's why Madam calls him MAUT KA SAUDAGAR. Result is before you..... & Choice is yours.

CONGRESS-MANAGED NEWS by N.ASTI on 20 Dec 2012

Congress has manged so-called liberal(In fact bias) Media,especially English ones,Pseudo-intelligentsia,and corrupt Pseudo-secular NGOs through the money from 2G,CWG,COALGATE and other scams.Even Congress thro'its puppet NDTV tried to communalize Gujarat elections on 16th through airing Muslim card in its "We The People" pretending to be secular!English Media,electronic as well as print tried to defame Modi raising 2002 and corruptly ignoring 1984.All this was for blaming Pan-India leader Modi and raising pan-10,Janpath Amul Baby through paid news.As all these dirty games failed,now attacking Modi in a different way to save the political on-slaught of their Master at 10,Janpath in a wish of getting Bharat-Ratna in return to such paid news.

What cult??? by aneel on 20 Dec 2012

In any democracy a personality cult is important, Is the author of this news article blind to the fact it always personalty that matters in election. John F Kennedy,Barack Obama, Bill Clinton,Margret Thatcher,Tony Blair. Even in Indian elections we have had Jawaharlal Nehru,Indira Gandhi etc At present the congress party is follwing the Sonia and Rahul Gandhi Cult. In other states we have had the Lalu Prasad Yadav ,Mulayam Singh, In Punjab The Badal In south Karunandhi Jayalita, in Bengal Jyoti Basu so what the big deal when it comes to Gujarat.

NARENDERA MODI A REAL HERO OF B.J.P. by RAJAT KUMAR MOHINDRU .JALANDHAR CITY on 20 Dec 2012

The Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr Narendera Modi has proved his ability to rule . The verdict of the Masses for Five more Years clearly indicate the confidence that the People of Gujarat have in there minds towards Narendera Modi and B.J.P. making Modi the real Hero of Gujarat .

Time of Snacks by asanantha on 20 Dec 2012

here is the latest news snack hungry Gujus ordered massive bajiya's and pakora's to celebrate the victory of MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOdi. It comes free off course.... We poor souls may think this is the beginning of the end of world as predicted by Mayan's. Let's celebrate all...

congrats by namit on 20 Dec 2012

as expected Modi won gujarat for BJP and it's also expected UPA coalition will again get the center....BJP needs a magnet like Vajpayee in the center, not a repellent like Modi. The question is can the BJP itself get 200 seats in Parliament in 2014 to attract other allies...they got only about 180 during the height of Vajpayee's popularity?? India is alot more diverse and complex than Gujarat...Modi got it easy in Gujarat its not like UP or Bihar the heartland of Indian politics,, the real test is 2014, Gujarat was a foregone result.

True secularism by T.S.sampath Kumar on 20 Dec 2012

Newspaper and channels are now saying that People want him to be only CM and they cut down his aspiration given his hands down and commendable victory. Y this topsy tarvy.Earlier newspaper said his national ambition hinges on his victory in Gujarat and now started saying his win indicates people wants to cut down his aspiration. Common guys, come to terms with the situation and praise him.

I am beginning to think by Brian on 20 Dec 2012

WE are cogress family traditionally for decades. But we all the scams going on, we started to think. and i believe its the time to think for the better future.. and after seeing Guj growth (may be less than marketed, but surely far better than many states including delhi), we should think positively and vote for some one like modi for the 2014 pm. But who else is there.. i think we will go with Modiji

Modi sab by G.Dwarakanath on 20 Dec 2012

Shri Modi has done some good governace in Gujarat as the people gave majority to BJP.The younger generation gave more importance to his positive actions.

Beware !!!!! by Hindustanilion on 20 Dec 2012

Don't take it for granted but think about negative propaganda of congress's two main leaders , President and R Gandhi, if you go through they have tried to minimize congress stake by repeating wrong statement of VIKAS and about Mr. Modi along with all is done with help of their money from center !!! They knew that Gujarat state has given more contribution in national income than what they have return !!!!!! They will fight with same negative approach in forth coming General Election and will see all top leaders of their party looses berth in parliament. It's hidden agenda !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Modi the invincible by neeta chaturvedi on 20 Dec 2012

Modi has proved that politics , social change and development can work together. A convincing victory and now perhaps the requirement of reconciliation between the secular and non secullar forces

Modi-The Most Promosing Leader by Rekha on 20 Dec 2012

Modi Surely is the most promising leader of India. He is not the one like Congress' Rahul Gandhi who gets to lead because of dyanastic politics. Rahul Gandhi and Congress is thw most corupt party in India and Mr. Modi can surely lead India towards development

Asst. Manager by Venugopal on 20 Dec 2012

Although and basically i am a congressman since birth but I believe this is the time to change and I prefer Modi to be next PM to bring development on all-india basis and eliminate corruption.

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