What has helped Modi consolidate his power?

Ramachandra Guha the well-known historian in his article in Scroll “ Gandhi Family has helped Modi to Consolidate his power” gives a totally superficial analysis of the consolidation of the power of Modi-BJP in the last over a decade. The points made by him of dynastic succession do not hold much water as dynasts within BJP and other parties are proliferating at equal pace. He may have some point in criticising Rahul Gandhi in not pursuing the issues more consistently, but that is also doubtful as RG has consistently talked against the danger of BJP’s parent organization and its Hindu nationalist politics which is damaging our democracy to no end. Rahul may have taken to politics due to prodding of his mother, but what is definite is that he no longer is being instructed by his mother. He has interacted with all and sundry in national politics, he has met and seen the country through his magnificent Bharat Jodo yatras. His sister Priyanka may be a better speaker in Hindi but that does not matter in entirety as far as leading a movement or a party is concerned. He may be surrounded by some sycophants but surely, he has a mind of his own and he may be building a younger team to strengthen his organization on the basis of the ideology rooted in the principles of Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar.

Is it the Gandhi family that has helped Modi consolidate his vice-like grip on the nation? Guha needs to see the mechanisms aiding Modi in coming to power and holding on to it despite failures on economic front, despite failures on foreign policy front etc.? Modi is a fully trained pracharakPracharakA full-time, dedicated worker and organizer for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). of RSS and was picked up by Vajpayee to be the Chief Minister of Gujarat, despite any presence of curriculum vitae. The RSS ideology of Hindu nationalism runs into his blood. After the Gujarat carnage done on the pretext of Godhra train burning, he managed to consolidate his power in Gujarat through polarization, the mass murders of Muslim minority. Whole of RSS combine stood solidly behind him. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was visiting the refugee camp in Juhapura he reminded Modi of following Raj dharmaRaj DharmaThe traditional Hindu concept of the duty of rulers to govern justly and protect their subjects., Modi bluntly answered that that’s what he is doing. When Vajpayee wanted to remove him from the Chief Ministership of Gujarat, the whole of BJP members stood with him forcing Vajpayee to endorse the Gujarat Carnage.

His dog whistles against Muslims were too clever all through; pumping life into the Hindu Nationalist politics of RSS. RSS has been the real force to ensure that Modi comes to power at the centre. This was facilitated as the other contender for Prime Ministership Lal Krishna Advani became persona non Grata for RSS after his comments on Jinnah. While he was visiting Pakistan to inaugurate Katas Raj Temple, he also visited Jinnah’s mausoleum and said that Jinnah’s 11h August 1947 speech in Pakistan Constituent Assembly is the best definition of Secularism. Jinnah had said in the speech that now that Pakistan has been formed, all the religious communities are free to pursue their own religion.

The 2014 elections were a landmark in Modi’s hiring of image building agency APCOAPCO WorldwideA global public affairs consultancy that the Gujarat government hired to promote the Vibrant Gujarat summits, significantly boosting Modi’s international image. at state expense to build his image, converting him into a charismatic figure. His promises of reducing the prices of commodities, 15 lakhs in every one’s account and two crore jobs every year played magic to the people especially in the backdrop of Anna-Kejriwal movement for Jan Lokpal. This movement was aimed to defame the Congress and to pave the way for the success of Modi.

Having come to power Modi converted all the state agencies ED, IT, CBI into obedient parrots and the opposition was mauled in all the ways. In the use of these agencies and later helpful judiciary there was also the role of RSS trained pracharaks and its intense and successful propaganda of Hindu Nationalism. From 1978 Janata Party days when Advani was the Information and Broadcasting minister, the media started bending towards RSS ideology. This process became more or less complete when Modi started wooing the corporate World as CM of Gujarat who not only projected Modi as the next PM but also went on the buying spree of major TV channels and sections of Media. Modi put his eggs in the basket of social media and IT cell as well and proliferating media did prostrate in front of Modi.

Through his mechanisms of repression and propaganda a la Goebbels he had a vice-like grip on social common sense. To be sure of repeating his success Saam Daam Dand BhedSaam Daam Dand BhedAn ancient Indian political doctrine advocating four strategies for success: persuasion, purchasing, punishment, and division. (By Hook or by Crook) was the mantra. Election Commission was brought under the total grip of the Prime minister as the process of selection of Election Commissioners was changed by replacing the Chief Justice (OR his nominee) from the selection committee by one more Cabinet Minister. With the helpful Election Commission and the judiciary; the circle was complete. The abuse of EVMs was already in the air. In 2024 election results Teesta Setalvad and Parkala Prabhakar proved by analysing the election data that 78 MP seats were stolen. With the bringing in of SIR now the non-BJP voters are being deleted from electoral rolls so are they being done away from the right to vote. In case of W. Bengal 91 Lakh voters were deleted. The 27 lakh voters’ case was not taken up for proper review. The result is there for all to see.

Guha ignores the core reasons of consolidation of the power of Modi and by giving superficial examples of Rahul’s foreign trips or Priyanka being a better speaker in Hindi or Sonia Gandhi still controlling the ropes and Rahul meekly following her instructions, lower the level of analysis. The core reasons for Modi coming to power and retaining power are much more different than the weaknesses of Gandhi family or the other opposition parties. Yes, it is true that the politics and propaganda of RSS have not been countered and dealt with by the opposition properly. The response to emotive issues like Temple destructions, forcible conversions, or Beef eating or love jihad has not been countered adequately, that is the reason for consolidation of power of Hindu Nationalist Modi. Opposition in general and Gandhi family in particular need to mend their ways for sure but the core infiltration of society by RSS ideology is the real elephant in the room!

The article, first appeared on the Countercurrents, is published with Prior Permission of The Author.