But the tempo could not be sustained for long. The power struggle has its own logic. With the massive victory he won after the riots, Modi’s image grew larger than life. His confidence in himself as the best campaigner, master manoeuvrer and administrator was boosted. Thanks to the compulsions of democratic politics and the larger political forces, he appears to have given up the visible signs of the RSS and VHP brand of Hindutva of late. But there is enough evidence to show that the mindset of the pracharak is unchanged. As is the authoritarian streak he has displayed throughout his tenure as chief minister. In his five years in power, he has destroyed the party structure and circumvented its functioning. He has alienated the Sangh Parivar as well as the party rank and file.

The dissidents are up in arms against Modi for basically three reasons. One, they are irked by and tired of Modi’s “autocratic and self-centred style of functioning”. They feel that they are sidetracked in all major decisions; the CM does not grant them even a hearing. Their demands and complaints are not attended to by the administration; their ego has been repeatedly, sometimes publicly, hurt by Narendrabhai.

Two, the average grassroots party netas who have been in the BJP for more than three decades do not get to share in the spoils of power. They do not get the goodies that naturally flow to party workers in a democratic system. Three, with time they see that the party is losing popularity in a cross-section of society, as the tangible benefits of the so-called vibrant high growth economy have not percolated to the aam aadmi. They fear that Modi could re-enact the post-Godhra carnage, but they also know that it is not possible without the support of the Parivar.

... contd.