The entire BJP election campaign was built around one
individual: Narendra Modi. The advertisements all appealed for vote for Mr.
Modi. In the television spots, Modi appeared and exhorted voters to vote for
BJP because every vote went to him. Unstated in these ads was a plea to vote
for BJP and its allies irrespective of the candidate from the constituency
because ultimately every vote counted to take Modi closer to becoming the Prime
Minister. Even the tagline (that has since become a very popular catch phrase
in conversations along with achche din...)
proclaimed: Ab ki baar, Modi Sarkar.
The campaign excited a lot of debate. Dictatorial and
despotic began being used for Modi. Even pro-Modi intellectuals were shocked by
the hinging of the campaign on one individual. Everyone felt that BJP should
have concentrated on its platform of development for the advertising blitz. Many
change-seekers despaired that this campaign would backfire and Modi may
actually lose votes by such aggressive self-promotion.
But the campaign proved successful and the election results
are already history.
Since swearing-in on May 26th, Modi Sarkar is
probably the most watched government
by regular citizens. The hopes pinned on Modi (note, the hopes have been pinned
on this one man) are very many and very high. The expectation of delivery on
all fronts doesn’t offer the leeway of time. Just over one month now, the
government is quickly being judged, sentenced and hung by the common man.
It is true that the man, Narendra Modi, captured
imagination. This election has been only about him. The votes have been cast
solely for him. But the fallout is that Modi today is held personally
responsible for everything.
If you surf the web, you will find sorrowful Modi-disappointment
posts from the NaMos and gleeful Modi-bashing from the NoMos. Articles in the
online versions of major publications report news – railway fare hike, HRD
minister plans to have one IIT in every State, the VAT-LBT debate with a
certainty of price rise, banks not offering lifetime free credit cards
anymore...etc. Even when the media article is merely reportage (without a slant
or bias) the comments posted by readers are illuminating. The comments indicate
that everything -- from potholes and garbage to violence against women and
Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar’s statement that one can get a filling meal
for Rs. 5/- in the city – are considered a direct reflection on Modi. Many
address their comments directly to “Mr. Modi” or “Modiji” asking him to fix the
problem pronto.
If the election was a joyful coronation of Modi, today that
very crown is getting heavier on the head and tighter around the temples. Just
like is his ads he said every vote to BJP was a vote from him, today every
voter expects his personal attention to their individual gripes. Today, the
burden of being Narendra Modi is immense – which can only be contained with a
good budget (this budget has been dubbed Super Budget by the media and is
expected to wave a magic wand on the national economy as well as individual
prosperity – thus adding greater pressure of performance on the new government)
on July 10th.
And at some point people will learn that the country cannot
be set right in a jiffy and that Narendra Modi is just one man – he cannot do
everything at once nor can he be everything for everyone.