Narendra Modi loses his top supporter within NDA


Ahmedabad, 17 November 2012

Bal Thackeray’s death is personal loss to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Balasaheb was top supporter of Modi within NDA.

Modi met Balasaheb twice in last decade. He called on Balasaheb first in March 2003 and later in December 2006.

In 2009, Thackeray wrote in Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece “Saamana” that he prevailed on BJP leader L K Advani not to remove Narendra Modi from the chief ministerial chair in Gujarat after the Godhra riots.

“Modi gaya to Gujarat gaya (If Modi is gone, Gujarat will also slip out of BJP hands),” Thackeray claimed as telling Advani at the Mayor’s bungalow in Mumbai in his article in Saamana.

“There were hectic moves to remove Modi from the post after the Godhra riots. We clearly told Advani that Gujarat will be lost if Modi is removed,” Thackeray further said in that article.Link

Thackeray had not said this for the first time. Soon after Modi won the assembly election in Gujarat in 2002, Thackeray said he had advised the BJP leadership not to effect a change of guard in the state in the wake of Godhra carnage and subsequent communal conflagration. “I had repeatedly conveyed my message to Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishenchand Advani, not to dislodge Modi through various central BJP ministers whom I had met during that period,” Thackeray said. “I had also told the BJP leadership that it was only Modi who could win the state back for that party.”

He added, “I do not claim that only due to my advise central BJP leadership reposed faith in Modi, but good sense prevailed on them and they continued with him.” The Sena chief said his party may have differences with BJP but it wanted the latter’s victory in the Gujarat polls. “Had Congress come to power in that state, entire Gujarat would have been turned into Godhra,” he further added.

Thackeray had also advised Modi to follow Rajdharma. He had said, “By successfully conducting the Gujarat election, Modi had followed rajdharma but his responsibility has increased manifold and he will have to strictly follow rajdharma.” Link

Modi called on Thackeray in Mumbai in 2003 photograph of which is presented with this article.

In 2004 Thackeray said that BJP must not remove Modi under pressure from the opposition

“It [the removal of Modi] is an issue made out by the opposition. Why are you [BJP] removing him under pressure? You [BJP] think of your party’s interest,” Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray told a TV channel.

Thackeray said the communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 were a reaction to what happened in Godhra. “If the reaction to the demolition of Babri Masjid can be felt in Mumbai, why can’t the reaction to Godhra occur in other parts of Gujarat?” he asked.

Thackeray had made this statement in backdrop of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s statement while on a holiday in Manali in Himachal Pradesh that Gujarat riot was one of the factor that led to BJP’s defeat in the general election.

The Sena chief said he does not agree with Vajpayee’s assessment. He said the BJP’s poor performance in the election was because it moved away from its ‘Hindutva agenda.’ Link

In 2007, Thackeray had termed the spectacular victory of Narendra Modi in the Gujarat assembly elections as the ‘strengthening of Hindu unity’. In an editorial of Saamna, he expressed confidence that Modi’s agenda of development and Hindutva would continue in the future.

The Sena chief observed that United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Congress tried to harm Modi’s chances at the hustings by raising the Sohrabuddin encounter case.But, the people of Gujarat have taught the Congress a lesson. He also ridiculed the Left’s reaction that Modi should be defeated ideologically, if not politically. Thackeray noted that Modi’s victory in Gujarat was on expected lines and was a slap in the face of political pundits. The BJP may have lost eight to nine seats, but it is not a setback, he added.Link

In his article in March 2009, Thackeray came out in strong support of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership qualities, saying the `BJP needs Modi, who is a `swayambhu (self-created) leader.

“BJP needs Modi. Our ally (BJP) may not like this statement but it is in my genes to tell the truth,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece `Saamana, of which Thackeray was the editor, said.

Referring to Modi as `Sardar-Modi’, the veteran Shiv Sena leader said he was a `swayambhu’ leader who has the power to get what he wants `by even bending Delhi.

The Sena chief also wrote about the coming together of the Yadavs in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for gaining power in Delhi and said leaders of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka should also come together to fight for their rights.Link

Thackeray was not always full of praise for Modi. When Modi started Sadbhavana mission, Thackeray had critical note to pass on.

In last year Thackeray said the Gujarat Chief Minister shot to power by the Hindu vote bank and he should not give them “poison of secularism” in his battle for “gaddi” in Delhi. He also asked Modi not to forget that after Maharashtra, Gujarat was the laboratory of Hinduism and said whatever he was today, it was because of Hindu vote bank.

“Hindu ramsevaks were killed in Godhra riots (train burning) and that’s why Hindus were inflammed. Do not kill them by giving them dose of the poison of secularism,” Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’.

“Modi’s battle may be for the ‘gaddi’ (throne) of Delhi. But it is impossible without ‘sadbhavana’ (goodwill) of Hindus. It was the saffron flag which helped propel Modi to leadership position. It was due to Hindu vote bank that Modi reached the place where he is today,” he further said.Link

In January, Gujarat Chief Minister greeted Shri Thackeray on his birthday and described him as a ‘straightforward’ leader adding that “he always fought for Hindutva,” This was quoated in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

“A personality like his comes once in a century, he gave all in the national interest and ruled people’s hearts,” Modi had said.Link

In October this year Thackeray in Saamna said: Modi has shown his grip on Gujarat and is going to win the polls for the third time in a row. It won’t be easy for anyone to stop the victory march of Modi because of the pace of development in Gujarat in last 10 years under Modi’s leadership.A picture is painted on TV channels that Modi is some sort of demon and that he is going to gobble up all Muslims in the country,” Thackeray said, adding that it was wrong.

Thackeray further said: After the Gujarat riots, Congress labelled Modi as “merchant of death” but look what happened. Congress managed only 55 seats but the Modi-led BJP got 121 seats. In her entire speech, she did not even mention Modi’s name once. This is an indication that Congress has conceded defeat even before the electoral battle starts. Congress feels the dominance of Patels in Saurashtra will benefit it due to division of Hindu votes. This is nothing but a “day dream”. Link

There is no doubt that Narendra Modi has lost his senior most vocal supporter in NDA.

Paying homage to Shri Thackeray, Shri Modi tweeted: Full of life, Balasaheb Thackeray was an epitome of courage & valour. I am grieved to hear about his demise. May his soul rest in peace.