Amit Shah’s absence leaves a void in Modi’s poll plans

By S Muralidharan Ahmedabad: As Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi girds up for what could be his toughest political challenge so far —the assembly elections in December —he faces a big handicap: the absence of Amit Shah, his master strategist, Man Friday and close confidante. Shah, believed to be the architect of Modi’s massive electoral victories in 2002 and 2007, is out of Gujarat now under the orders of the Supreme Court. The former home minister has been chargesheeted by the CBI in the Shoiab Sohrabuddin and Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter cases. It is possible he won’t be in the state in the run-up to the elections, when Modi needs him the most. The latter’s challenges are daunting indeed. [caption id=“attachment_448857” align=“alignnone” width=“380”]  Amit Shah. Agencies[/caption] He has to face a resurgent Congress, pockets of resentment across the state, anger in the Sangh ranks, a minor revolt in the BJP’s old guard led by Keshubhai Patel and the adverse impact from the verdicts of the 2002 riots cases. The legal tangle Amit Shah finds himself in would not be cheering news for a chief minister aiming at a record third mandate. In Gujarat’s political circles, Amit Shah is considered a politician as astute as Modi, if not better. Like Modi, the MLA from Sarkhej, Gujarat’s largest assembly constituency, is known to be designing brilliant strategies for political wins and challenges. Combined, the two made a formidable political force, a win-win combination. They sprung surprises on their rivals, both inside the party and outside, on a routine basis. Many felt Amit was the logical political heir to Modi, in case the latter moved to Delhi. After his chargesheeting in the fake encounter cases— legal experts feel some of the 20 pieces of evidence against him in the Shorabuddin case may stick —his chances have dimmed significantly. In that case, Anandiben Patel is the most likely choice. What’s worrisome for Modi is his chances for a repeat mandate might get affected if Amit is convicted or if he is in the midst of a trial. The taint will spread to the chief minister since both he and Amit were among the close group of decision-makers in the party. It will cause some damage to his image which has already suffered a blow after the conviction of former minister Maya Kodnani in the Naroda Patiya riots case. Amit Shah— a hardcore RSS man and also long-time campaign manager of BJP stalwart LK Advani—was also known as the de facto chief minister since he micro-managed the state administration and government machinery with full approval from the chief minister. His methods did not win him many friends within the party - many thought he was a manipulator par excellence and ruthless in making decisions - but they were effective. He executed Modi’s plans to perfection and the success of the latter could be partly credited to him. He is being missed now. “There is no minister of Shah’s calibre in the ministry with whom Modi can entrust the responsibility of managing the administration while he focused on the political battle in Gujarat and beyond,” said a retired senior bureaucrat. Till he faced arrest, Shah was Modi’s Man Friday on every occasion, whether in political issues, administration or legal issues on account of riot cases in which the Supreme Court had taken interest. Shah remained in the forefront and took decisions. “Shah batted fantastically on legal and parliamentary affairs for Modi,’’ a political observed opined. Shah’s absence was felt when the BJP lost the Mansa assembly byelection earlier this year. The government also found itself helpless on the investigation instituted by Governor Kamla Beniwal against Fisheries minister Purshottam Solanki in the alleged Rs 500 crore fishery scam. “Shah’s managerial acumen was also felt in his absence when due to poor floor management Congress won brownie points during the assembly sessions,” another political observer said. Modi will have to handle the burden of the election virtually alone. It’s a tough ask even for the strongman.