BJP may win but Modi’s Gujarat Model got exposed in these polls

No matter what is the outcome of Gujarat polls one thing that has happened over the last few months is that the much hyped 'Gujarat Model' now stands exposed. The most evident sign of this phenomenon has been that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had to resort to the narrative of Pakistan, Aurangzeb and Alauddin Khilji while diverting from the key issues and economic indicators.

One of the most important things that was visible in the state in the run up to the elections was that the common people were talking about real issues, something that was only done by civil society groups and activists till now.

One of the most interesting things one came across this time was that the youth saying that since they have seen only a BJP regime in the state since they were born, they would want to see the others too.

This was most evident in a Facebook post of one Jatin Leuva, a youngster in Ahmedabad who wrote, “Despite having been brought up under constant force of Mera Modi Mahaan campaigns, the youth of Gujarat, unlike their elders, have demonstrated great clarity in identifying politics of communalism and half-truth. This is mainly seen in rural and semi-urban parts of Gujarat. Regardless of what the results of Gujarat Elections will be, this is a phenomenal social occurrence.”

This point of view from a youngster carries a lot of significance in the light of there being hardly any dissent or political activity or awareness of parties other than the Sangh Parivar visible in the colleges and universities in the state.

“They have brainwashed the people into believing that Congress is a party of Muslims and days of curfews and riots would return if it is elected to power,” said a local in Bharuch to this reporter in a small talk at a tea stall.

The BJP workers on the ground had to face tough questions this time that they were unable to answer. The most important ones were on education and jobs. “If their 'Gujarat Model' is so successful, they why have the youngsters been agitating for jobs? They should all have been well employed after completing their education. But the reality is very different. The youngsters here are not getting jobs,” said Yatin Vaghani in Varachha area of Surat.

Unemployment was a key issue in several areas like Bharuch, Dahej and Ankleshwar that are seen outside Gujarat as highly industrialised zones. The locals have been complaining of unemployment here. Except for counter claims, the BJP leadership was unable to come out with convincing replies on employment issue that was raised by the Congress leadership time and again.

Another issue that people often mentioned is education. The whole model built around privatised education, is on the verge of collapse. “Look at the scene in the engineering and pharmacy colleges in the state. In my batch there are just three students. Why would the management of a college care to employ proper regular faculty even as the students pay a heavy price for such a dismal scenario?” said a student of electrical engineering in Rajkot.

The Gujarat Model was never seen as inclusive. This continues to be the case even after the BJP has been in power for more than the two decades. “You ask those who have studied up to graduation to raise their hands here. You will find hardly three to four hands going up in a crowd of around 2000 people. The boys here are compelled to start earning their livelihoods as mechanics or street vendors from a very early age.

The plight of girls remains even worse. You can come across a few of them who have studied up to class six or seven and they do not go beyond writing their names or a couple of sentences,” pointed out Nayeem, a mechanic who stood listening to speeches of Congress leaders at Ghanchivad of Qasba area of Dahod.

The common refrain in the minority localities across the state has been that the civic amenities provided to them are poor and they are deliberately ignored despite the fact that in several cases it is the BJP's local leaders who get elected from their wards. Poor roads, non functional street lights, lack of sanitation, health facilities is a common feature of minority pockets across the state.

The scene remains the same in several tribal localities. Whatever be the reasons, it ultimately boils down to the government being responsible for providing at least the basics to all its citizens.

Even the residents of constituencies that have not been electing the BJP MPs or MLAs complained of their being punished for not allowing Lotus (BJP's poll symbol) to bloom there. “We have been deprived of Narmada waters for irrigation despite the canal flowing only 10 km away. No attention has been paid for improving our rail connectivity,” complained residents of villages around Kapadvanj.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi's model does not work for the likes of us. Earlier I used to earn Rs 200 a day but was able to somehow make two ends meet. Now I earn Rs 500 daily but am still left high and dry,” said Kishore, an autorickshaw driver in Vadodara.

This was also the first occasion, at least in the last two decades, where people could be seen questioning the definition of development. They could be seen discussing if mere building of roads and buildings can be called development. “Hardik Patel made a very pertinent point when he said during his rallies that development does not mean people having to sell off their lands in villages to come to cities and set small businesses there while living in small flats. Development means farmers living with dignity in their villages after getting proper price for their produce and not having to take loans,” said Harsh, a Patidar youth working in Ahmedabad.

The farmers across Saurashtra and in parts of central Gujarat could be heard repeatedly talking about their not getting remunerative prices for their cotton and groundnut produce despite two good monsoons.

The above mentioned issues formed the narrative on the ground across various regions of the state. Who wins or who loses the Gujarat polls remains just one aspect of the scenario because the political narrative deviated far away from reality. Something new that emerged for the first time was the people getting down to talking about real issues.