A confidential report from Fortress Modi suggests that on a reality check BJP understands that it is difficult for the party to cross the 200-seat mark, notwithstanding the poll surveys giving it a magnanimous 270 seats. The reality has dawned on the top brass that with Modi, there will be few allies except some desperados jumping on to its bandwagon. It would be a replay of the Delhi state elections – emerging as the single largest party because of strong anti-incumbency factor.
BJP top brass has started thinking of options. The best person to garner allies is, of course, Sushma Swaraj, the best parliamentarian and a speaker of credential. But that’s the fear of some big wigs in the party. They would go to any extent to thwart Sushma. The twitter war between Nirmala Seethraman and Sushma Swaraj is just a tip in the iceberg. If Modi falters after all his hard work and enormous funds pumped in, there are biggies in the waiting to reap the fruit of the best of his herculean campaign. Â
But all ambitions stop precisely where Nagpur draws the Laxman rekha. Rajnath Singh is mandated to make Modi the prime ministerial candidate, which he fulfilled. Now it’s the turn of Rajnath Singh to take over from Modi his unfinished work, should Modi fail to make it. Rajnath’s strength is that he is a Thakur who can galvanise the sizable Thakur votes in UP.
Take a look at leaders who cannot because of electoral compulsions join Modi – Jayalalithaa (9 seats), Mulayam Singh (22), Mayawati (21), Mamata (19), Nitish Kumar (19), Farooq Abdullah (3), CPM (4). Together, they command a good chunk of votes (around 120 seats) in the south, east and north. The poll surveys will not turn themselves into votes, and Modi will realise that he is so near, yet far away!   Â
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PHOTO COURTESY:- AFP