Narendra Modi’s Gujarat has virtually become an “independent unit” within the BJP. Mr Modi has kept the party high command out of the loop of activities undertaken by his government to mobilise voters ahead of the coming Assembly polls. The Central leadership is yet to hold a single meeting to formulate strategy for the Gujarat Assembly polls.
Sources disclosed the gap between Mr Modi and BJP top brass has also widened in the recent pass because of his “individualistic” attitude.” Even the RSS is miffed with him for putting “self” before the organisation, sources said. The Central leadership, sources disclosed, has also ignored Mr Modi’s requests to hold next national executive meet in his state where polls are scheduled by the end of this year. It could be recalled that Mr Modi had skipped the last national executive meet over BJP top brass decision to include his bete noire Sanjay Joshi in Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll management.
Speculation is rife within the BJP that after the Gujarat Assembly polls, Mr Modi will make his foray into the national politics. He is also being touted as a Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP.
While Mr Modi’s public engagements are on a rise and he is busy with mass contact programmes, keeping in view the coming polls, he is yet to consult the central leadership on the issue. Mr Modi’s equation with the party top brass especially party chief Nitin Gadkari has also deteriorated in the past few months.