(Ashok Malik is a columnist and writer living in Delhi)In the days leading up to
Narendra Modi's evocative, ebullient speech in Amethi, the news media made much of how this was a departure from tradition and from an "unwritten rule" of not campaigning in constituencies of top leaders of rival parties. The sense that politicians had long adhered to a gentlemanly code of conduct was heart-warming. It left some people asking searching questions of why the old days had ended with the nasty election of 2014. While such sentiment was laudable, it needs to be pointed out it was based on humbug. (
Highlights of Narendra Modi's speech at Amethi rally)
In truth, there is no such "unwritten rule" in Indian politics. Star campaigners, whether in state or national elections, are overworked and overburdened. They focus their energies on marginal seats - where a new social coalition, a change in local conditions and a big speech can convert defeat to victory. Constituencies where other parties are unbeatable - and most party leaders tend to contest from safe seats - are considered a waste of time. That is why, in 2004 or 2009, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, stayed away from Amethi. It was seen as impossible battle for the BJP.
However, when a political party smells blood - even in a hitherto difficult seat against a strong leader - it does not hesitate to jump into the fray. As such the BJP put up Sushma Swaraj against Sonia Gandhi in Bellary in 1999 and the Congress has Amarinder Singh challenging Arun Jaitley in Amritsar in 2014. To rewind, it was the chance of picking up high-profile seats that had the Congress and Rajiv Gandhi carefully choosing candidates against HN Bahuguna in Allahabad, Vajpayee in Gwalior and Chandra Shekhar in Ballia in 1984 and eventually defeating them. Electoral politics is a serious game. Nobody expends resources to make a symbolic point.
This background is important while assessing Narendra Modi's decision to cancel a public meeting elsewhere and head to Amethi on the final day of canvassing for the eighth phase of polling. He sensed a certain discontent with Rahul Gandhi. His party promoted the idea that Amethi was vulnerable. A last-minute thrust, it was felt, was a gamble worth taking.
Delivering his speech, Modi chose his words and his target carefully. In other areas, he has tended to club his opponents together and presented a "Modi versus the Rest" scenario. In Amethi, if the BJP is to do well, it needs to tap into the Yadav and lower OBC votes vacated by the Samajwadi Party, which has not put up a candidate. Hence Modi emphasised his own OBC status, and spoke of the Congress' humiliation of its late president Sitaram Kesri, also an OBC. Wonder of wonders, he even had kind words to say about Mulayam Singh Yadav, words he is unlikely to repeat when he resumes campaigning for the remaining seats of eastern Uttar Pradesh. (
Watch)
Nothing about Modi can ever be simple. Once in Amethi, he addressed both the crowd before him as well as a larger national audience. Having made an all-India event of what would in the normal course have been just another constituency meeting, he found himself with a captive television audience in the final hour of campaigning for 64 seats in seven seats. Twenty-five of these seats are in Seemandhra, where 175 assembly constituencies will also be voted for on May 7.
With an eye on the Seemandhra voter, Modi referred to Rajiv Gandhi's humiliation of then Andhra Pradesh chief minister T Anjaiah in the early 1980s, and Sonia Gandhi's snubbing of PV Narasimha Rao on his death in 2004. While these references were couched as examples of the Nehru-Gandhi family's arrogance and short fuse, they didn't really make sense in Amethi. In his trademark manner, Modi was speaking to several categories of listeners.
So what is the upshot of Modi's speech? Actually, there are three.
First, he has captured TRPs at an opportune time in the campaign, which is something he has made a habit of in this election.
Second, by taking the battle into the heart of Amethi, he has left Priyanka Vadra and Rahul Gandhi that much more nervous.
Third, he's got us guessing and betting on Amethi. Till the other day, almost nobody was doing that.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.