Gujarat has been a two-party democracy since the beginning much to the like of both the political parties, the BJP and the Congress. BJP has enjoyed an unchallenged rule since more than a decade now and has transformed the polity of Gujarat into a Modi-centric one. You are either pro-Modi or anti-Modi in Gujarat.
One can understand the failure of BJP to promote second rung leadership because of the obvious authoritarian state of affairs in the party. But even the Congress party, which boasts of Gandhi, Sardar and Morarji Desai as its Gujarati sons, has been unable to find a match for Modi in Gujarat. The Congress is in such a precarious situation that it has seized to be a party with original ideas.
Congress has benefited from the anti-Modi and anti-establishment votes in the state. All its efforts are half-hearted campaigns to counter the Modi charisma. The issues which Congress raises fail to connect the masses. It recently made one such failed attempt to sensationalise the hooch tragedy in Ahmedabad.
Considering the political affairs in Gujarat and excessive dependence on the high command, much cannot be expected from Congress in future to combat the communal forces. The Congress party, which has thrived on the Muslim and Dalit votes, has ensured that no effective leadership is promoted from both these segments. There is no single prominent Muslim leader in the Congress in spite of garnering almost 30% of its vote share from the community. The five odd Muslim MLAs in the party neither have capacity nor support from the party leadership to become agents of change.
Muslims have been the biggest losers in this two-party politics. Muslims are made to believe that only Congress can combat the communal forces. This has reduced the political significance of Muslim votes. Muslims are taken for granted by the party. Congress has not raised any single issue in the interest of Gujarati Muslims. Muslims were the worst hit after the last year’s serial blasts in Ahmedabad. Hundreds of Muslim youths were detained by police without any evidences against them. The panic was set in but none had the guts to raise the voice. Neither Muslim organisations nor the political leaders extended their solidarity to those who were made to suffer.
Even, today dozens of Muslim youths are behind the bars waiting for the trials. Forget about rescuing them, no one has dared to speak for them in public. The law must of course take its due course but not at the cost of justice. What about the plight of families of individuals who were released after months of detention as nothing was found against them? What about the stigma attached with their identities and their social isolation?
Congress is busy trying to break into the BJP vote bank and is even prepared if it means soft Hindutva. The Congress voice against Jaswant Singh is one such manifestation of its soft Hindutva. Congress learnt its lessons in U.P. and Bihar where it was the major political party. Neglecting the Muslims and Dalits meant the emergence of regional parties. The regional parties may have a million limitations and an opportunist mindset but nonetheless, they have been effective.
If similar phenomenon is repeated in Gujarat, then the new breed of leadership would emerge from the various quadrants of the society. The political scene would be a better representative of the social fabric of Gujarat. One must remember that Gujarat is not only about Modi as it is made out to be. The real Gujarat resides in Kutch, Saurashtra, small villages of North and Central Gujarat and in the beautiful landscapes of South Gujarat. Gujarat should never be portrayed as what few urban elites want it to be painted.
The big question remains who is going to stand up and be counted for this third party. The past endeavours by Chimanbhai Patel and Shankersinh Vaghela were effectively nullified by the Congress. Gujarat is waiting for its messiah.