BJP told the world that it is a very different party.
That it has inner party democracy.
That it is not controlled by one person or a small group of persons.
That it takes decisions based on consensus.
But all of that seems to be thing of the past. Increasingly we are seeing that one person or at best two persons are running the party as their fiefdom. A party that once prided itself of being different and not controlled by the center has become just that, a party that is almost same as any other party and controlled by the center.
Recent replacements of Chief Ministers in the midst of their tenures is an indication that all is not is not well with the party. The summary resignation of B.S. Yediyurappa in Karnataka (without a whimper), the replacement of two CM’s in Uttrakhand in quick succession and now the replacement of Vijay Rupani does not bode well to the BJP narrative of it being a party with a difference. All the replacements have happened at the direction of Narendra Modi, the party leader in Lok Sabha and the PM of the country and his second in command Amit Shah.
Vijay Rupani just completed five years a few weeks ago. But in a sudden move, where no reason was provided, he has been asked to resign. And he has resigned citing reason that a fresh leadership will be able to lead the party better than him!
The real reason may be entirely different. It is being speculated that a survey done by RSS has thrown up the possibility that BJP may not be able to win Gujarat again as the citizens have been left stranded by mismanagement of Corona. There is general disquiet on loss of business and employment (which form a big concern area for the Gujarati population) and rising prices have all hit home hard. Also the inclination of the state government and indeed the central government towards a few corporate houses has become glaringly evident.
The reason for his replacement could also be a diversionary tactic to take the focus of blame away from Modi and assuage the hurt feelings of the citizens by finding scapegoats elsewhere.
But the citizens are no longer ill informed. They know what is happening and this time around, BJP may find it tougher than 2017 (when it barely managed a majority of 99 seats against a mid way mark of 92 seats) to win Gujarat.
And that will be a body blow to Modi as his oft quoted and touted Gujarat Model will then lie in tatters.