Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat has a strong hold over the Hindu vote bank in the state. Other organizations, in his presence somehow seem irrelevant in the battle of Gujarat for the upcoming elections. He recently underwent a series of fasts and undertook the Sadhbhavna Yatra to strengthen the atmosphere of peace, unity and harmony and connect with the Muslims. The whole country’s eyes are set on the state of Gujarat for this term’s elections. For now, as Modi remains the central focus of the Gujarat campaign, it appears that there is little space for any other leader within the Hindutva universe. This week, IBN Lokmat’s episode focuses on a special report on the core identity of ‘Moditva’, tune in to Reportaaz on Sunday, 9th December at 10.00 am and 8.30 pm only on IBN-Lokmat.
From selling tea at an obscure railway station to becoming the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat and the poster-boy of the Hindutva ideology, Narendra Damodardas Modi has proved to be a smart strategist. What distinguishes Modi from others is his art to exploit the situations, be it the devastation that came in the form of the earthquake of 2001 and the Godhra carnage a year later. The Hindu Political identity is central in the Gujarati-Hindu electoral mind space. And Narendra Modi is the undisputed face of that identity, something that was established in 2002 and forms the core of Moditva. Unlike in 2002, Narendra Modi has consciously stayed away from any overt references to the violence this time, but for his core supporters, he is still seen as a strong defender of the interests of the majority community.
Narendra Modi has managed to retain his Hindutva symbolism while starting his election campaign for the 2012 assembly elections. Is the brand of Hindutva slowly becoming ‘Moditva’, IBN Lokmat explores some more. Tune in to Reportaaz on Sunday, 9th December at 10.00 am and 8.30 pm only on IBN-Lokmat.