BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi stoops to conquer hearts

KANPUR: BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi on Friday surprised many by literally stooping to conquer — he touched the feet of senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who, after being turfed out of the Varanasi seat to make way for the Gujarat CM, has been sullen. Earlier this week, Joshi had said he did not see any Modi wave and that the wave was for BJP.

Facing criticism that Modi has been sidelining Brahmin leaders of UP, the BJP's PM pick is clearly aiming at an image make-over: he then offered the tallest chair on the stage, earmarked for him, to the veteran leader. Overriding Joshi's feeble objections, Modi then ensured the Brahmin leader occupied it.

Modi's attempt to indicate Joshi's high stature in the party despite his being the PM candidate made one member observe, "Many of us were surprised with Modi touching Joshi's feet. We never expected this. It was a rare scene. But this proves there is no leader like Modi in the party, taking everybody along."

Modi's action came in the wake of the ongoing controversy over Modi-Joshi differences. Apart from saying he saw no Modi wave, Joshi had also said the Gujarat model of development could not be implemented across all states. Affronted by his comments, party workers were continuously raising pro-Modi slogans during Joshi's campaign in the city.

To control the damage from the Modi-Joshi chasm, the party put up a hoarding in the city showing Joshi and Modi hugging each other. In reply, Joshi's supporters put up billboards with slogans like 'Ab Ki Bar BJP Sarkar' instead of "Ab Ki Bar Modi Sarkar".

Under these circumstances, Modi's touching Joshi's feet and paying him respect before a huge crowd could gain him the support of disaffected UP Brahmins.