Modi defers decision on poll

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi deferred the decision on the dissolution of the state Assembly at a crucial state Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The decision was deferred apparently to avoid any embarrassment for the already problem-plagued BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

Top sources in Ahmedabad stressed that Mr. Modi was compelled by New Delhi to refrain from dissolving the state Assembly. Not only was a snap poll or its possibility not discussed, the almost two-hour Cabinet meeting specially called to discuss the dissolution of the Assembly did not even use the word “election” or “poll.”

It instead talked about the need to restore peace and effect rehabilitation measures. State BJP spokesman I.K. Jadeja confirmed, “We did not even touch upon the subject.” The majority of the ministers were surprised at the change in agenda and did not know that the decision would be deferred.

The BJP national executive had empowered Mr. Modi to decide upon the dissolution of the Assembly and go in for a snap poll. It had been earlier announced that Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting would deliberate upon this.

Sources in New Delhi said the Gujarat Cabinet’s decision to defer the dissolution of the state Assembly was taken keeping in mind the forthcoming election of the President. The sources said that realising that the NDA would need to muster all its strength to push through its candidate for President, Mr. Modi deferred the decision to dissolve the Gujarat Assembly.

The decision was taken also to avert any further complication with the allies, particularly the TDP which is opposing an early poll in Gujarat. It was learnt that with the election for the post of President slated for the end of July, the NDA was trying to push through its candidate for President. The BJP’s overwhelming presence in the state Assembly would be “useful” for the purpose, the sources said.

In Ahmedabad, the Modi government transferred 52 bureaucrats in its biggest reshuffle till date, an indication that Mr Modi is preparing for a snap poll. All districts in Gujarat now have BJP-friendly officers as collectors.

Top sources admitted that Mr. Modi received instructions from New Delhi not to even “talk of elections” in the present scenario. The sources added that the Election Commission “is in no position to let the BJP have its way and hold elections in May end or June.”

Mr. Modi, in a complete volte face, said, “Elections were not even on the agenda of today’s Cabinet meeting. It is more important that I focus on rehabilitation and other similar priorities. I want to wipe the tears of all those affected in the riots. I want to ensure that board examinations are peacefully held. Snap polls are not my priority.”

The Congress dismissed his statement as “one more example of his hypocrisy.” Congress leader Arjun Singh, who was in Ahmedabad to demand Mr. Modi’s ouster, said, “The Gujarat Chief Minister is very keen to hold a snap poll. It is only under compulsions that he has deferred his decision.”

A senior BJP minister, admitting this, said, “We will be making the poll announcement at an appropriate time.” A VHP source indicated that Mr. Modi, who has nothing but the Hindu card, is likely to dissolve the state Assembly on April 21 because April 21 is Ramnavmi, which holds great significance in Gujarat. “We are trying to tell him that if things cool down at the Centre, Ramnavmi would be an appropriate day to ask for a public mandate,” he added.

The Gujarat BJP wants elections in the end of May to coincide with elections in Goa, or latest by the second week of June so that it can comfortably cash in on the Hindutva wave.

“The state government would have been in an embarrassing position if it proposed a date which would be quashed by the Election Commission,” a senior bureaucrat who attended the Cabinet meeting said. The electoral roll revision process is also incomplete in Gujarat.

Republished from The Asian Age