BJP directs Modi wave at eastern UP

The massive show of strength in Varanasi when Narendra Modi filed his nomination papers on Thursday was aimed at convincing voters in the entire Poorvanchal region, where his candidature so far has not created the kind of ripples the BJP was hoping for.

The ceremony was replete with symbolism traditionally associated with the culture of Varanasi.

The BJP ferried its lone Muslim leader from Uttar Pradesh, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, with Modi while his name was proposed by noted local singer Chhannu Lal Mishra, known for his lilting rendition of thumri, kajri and chaiti in the light classical tradition.

Other proposers were Virbhadra Nishad, a boatman, and Ashok, a representative of the local weaver community.

Modi himself packaged his understanding of the syncretic Ganga-Jamuni Kashi culture. “I first thought the BJP had sent me here; then I thought I was coming to Kashi. Now I realise that the Mother Ganges had summoned me here, like a mother beckons a child,” he said.

Modi prominently mentioned the weavers of Varanasi in his short interaction with the media, a move mainly aimed to soothe the Muslim weavers in the region.

The turnout for his road show before Modi filed the nomination was impressive, prompting his close aide and BJP General Secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh Amit Shah to exclaim that the “Modi wave has become a tsunami”.

Shah has been stationed in Varanasi for the last three days, overseeing the preparations that create precisely the kind of atmospherics that would influence voters not just in Varanasi but the seats around as well.

Political workers from other parties claim that the BJP’s efforts to create a “tsunami” in eastern UP have not succeeded till now.

They believe that besides the RSS making a focused bid to revive the BJP in Poorvanchal with booth-to-booth marking, there is a possibility of communal tension in the area.

“They have not succeeded so far in eastern UP,” said Devendra Singh, general secretary, Varanasi district Congress.

“You count the seats around Varanasi and tell me where the BJP stands even an outside chance of winning.” The BJP indeed has its task cut out in the seats neighbouring Varanasi such as Chandauli, Bhadoi, Jaunpur, Machchlishehr, Azamgarh, Robertsgunj, Ballia and Ghosi. In Chandauli, for instance, the BJP has fielded former MLA Mahendranath Pandey, who ranked fifth in the neighbouring Bhadoi seat in the elections held in 2009.

The seat is presently held by the SP and the contest even in this election is largely believed to be between the SP and the BSP. Simultaneously, in Bhadoi, the BJP has fielded a veteran of the Ayodhya movement named Virendra Singh ‘Mast’ who has the dubious distinction of not being able to even save his deposit in the by-election held in the nearby seat of Ballia which was held after former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar passed away.

While the BJP is hoping that its alliance with Apna Dal, which holds sway over the significant number of Patel voters in this seat, and the consolidation of the upper castes, particularly Brahmins, will help the party, the workers on the ground do not share this belief. This seat is presently held by the BSP.

Similar reports from other seats adjoining Varanasi are cited by political workers in Varanasi as a reason for apprehending communal trouble in the area.

The AAP, which has been at the receiving end of the BJP’s aggressive cadre in Varanasi, has accused the BJP of “doing politics of blood”.

AAP leader Somnath Bharti faced a violent group of BJP supporters in the city on Wednesday and a number of AAP volunteers have complained of being routinely roughed up in the city.

The city administration, however, maintained that there is no anticipation of tension or violence in or around Varanasi.

“We have made adequate security arrangements. There is no trouble anywhere. Please do not believe everything that is said during elections,” said Jogender Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Varanasi.

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