In my view, Modi has realised that his communal card is not going to work at all in the forthcoming elections. Forget gathering support from all sections of Gujarat society; he is not able to get support from his own BJP people.

A sizeable number of BJP MLAs and MPs from the state are disgruntled with Modi’s style of functioning and are looking for options to get him defeated. He has also lost the support of VHP leaders who are now talking openly against him.

Modi is also running short of issues to support his electoral campaign. He can no longer launch an assault against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, since his own party has praised Jinnah, the man who divided India. He may cry himself hoarse over development in Gujarat, but the fact remains that this development is nowhere to be seen outside of a few big cities.

The writer is a Congress MP in Rajya Sabha