Unimpressive concluding function of Gujarat BJP Adivasi Yatra

By Japan K Pathak

The concluding function of Gujarat BJP’s ‘Adivasi Gaurav Yatra’ was very unimpressive and poor.

The core attraction of this function was to be national party president Amit Shah’s presence on dais and his address. However even after repeated prior announcements by party that Shah would come to this function, he actually didn’t turn up, obviously due to Uttar Pradesh elections.

The most highlighting point of concluding function of Adivasi Yatra which was perceived as a big public meeting of tribals of north Gujarat was empty chairs. Over half chairs in GMDC ground of Ambaji were empty and unoccupied throughout the function. That big white block of empty chairs was the most striking feature of the function, better visible from the stage, and therefore all BJP leaders present on dais know about this. Then it was hot afternoon and open ground and therefore many of those attending the function were leaving it midway. The Chief Minister had to cut short his speech as he was the last person to speak and by that time most of those present in the function were very much tired of sitting in open under the sun.

As we pointed out before, Gujarat BJP has no impressive orator lately. Back in 1980s and even through 1990s and 2000s, BJP was known as party that had impressive and magnetic lot of orators. Hindutva ideology, principal unique stand on crucial issues, flare of natural opposition and blunders of ruling opponent in the Centre; this all was giving edge to BJP and its orators. But that has been a past now. At present, BJP is in power right from the street to South Block in Delhi. When you are in power, you generally loss quite a much of fire power. However, if you are smart enough, you can still maintain fire power and remain attractive, or in compelling situation, as you are in position, you can still engage the crowd even without use of fire power. However when it comes to Gujarat BJP, it has no crowd pulling, mass magnet leader at present who is also a good orator. And yes we are not forgetting Parshottam Rupala here. He was once an engaging orator, but has lately lost his charm. The state BJP president Jitu Vaghani has problem with his voice and voice delivery. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is cold guy who never seems working hard on content of his speech. In his some of recent speeches he reads the poem ‘Kabutaro nu ghu ghu ghu….’. Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha(BJYM) leader Rutvij Patel who has been recently floated by party against Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel seems a guided missile and fails to look as original speaker when it comes to core script. No Gujarat BJP leader seems to have art of collecting engaging content for speech with perfect style of delivery. Another thing noticed in recent BJP functions is – there are many union ministers and state/national office bearers now and all of them have to be called to speak due to their status. This makes most BJP functions look like earlier Congress ones. Too many leaders to speak, and again none of them an impressive speaker. In absence of crowd pulling and original mass leader, whatever people are pulled to BJP functions are people associated with local party organization in one way or other.

Gujarat Congress has same issue. Most of its functions, whether organizational functions or agitation programmes are attended only by Congress workers.

At present, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi’s visits are awaited by Gujarat BJP. Both Shah and Modi know what to deliver in public addresses. General election of Gujarat assembly is likely to be held in December this year. After the present polling season in north India, the results in the month of March and subsequent government formation, only Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh – two poll-bound states will be in focus for the party. Shah will have enough time to spend in Gujarat, and Modi will also have enough space to visit Gujarat frequently.

Issue: Over half chairs remained entry in the function

Whom party would blame?: The party would blame its local organization for not empty chairs, heat, open ground, lack of drinking water facility.

What party should actually think?: Why don’t we have mass magnet, crowd pulling leader, impressive orator who would naturally attract general public?

-DeshGujarat