By-Election

Despite the rout in LS polls earlier this year, the BJP has done well in the By-Election in both Gujarat & MP.

Modi has won 5 out of the 7 seats. And 6 of them has been held by Cong for the last 10 years.

And Shivraj Singh in MP has once again proved he is a consumate, unassuming politician by doing well.

Does these by-elections results say anything? I for one believe it is a commentary on the BJP Central Leadership. While the State leadership continues to deliver, the central leadership flounders. With Rajnath at the helm, you can not expect anything else.

I think the time has come to consider State Leadership of BJP as independent Profit Centres and integrate them at the national level to mount a serious challenge on the Congress. At the end of the day, the ordinary voter is interested in what the Govt has to offer and does not really care about what the ideological beliefs, etc. If ideology is going to sway voters, the Dravidan movement in TN would not be ruling the State since 1967.

I think it is hightime BJP gets into brasstacks and develop strong local leadership, who are honest, sincere, educated, committed (a la Parrikar) and let them lead.