2019 election was fought on personality cult n Narendra Modi’s image was fully utilised by BJP n its allies

The 2019 election was the election of personality cult not based on programmes and policies to a larger extent. Had it been the case the major issues of unemployment, agrarian crisis, especially the matter of farmers’ suicides, demonetisation, GST n traders grievances at large would not have been diluted nor the caste polarisation possibilities blurred as the various exit polls are predicting that even in Uttar Pradesh the saffron party under Modi effect or charisma is likely to fare extremely well giving merely 25 seats to the BSP, SP n RLD combine.

The entire election was based on personality cult with prime minister Narendra Modi being the choice of the BJP led NDA, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi the projected face of the Congress n Mayawati, Akhilesh and Mamta Bannerjee representing their respective parties’ faces as the future prime minister candidates, though not openly but making it obvious from their respective party angles.

In this whole exercise, while the people of the country Narendra Modi as the most befitting prospective prime minister for the second time in succession, especially on national security matters and post Balakot action, the loose grand alliance and their leaders accusing and castigating each other publicly, could not impress the voters of the country about their future reliability n trust.

There was a clear cut choice amongst the voters of the country between a personality of Narendra Modi who according to them still stands fully successful and accountable to countrymen while on the other hand there are scattered leaders who could not see each other eye to eye despite being a part n parcel of the gathbandhan based on similar ideologies.

While prime minister Narendra Modi was an already declared undisputed prime minster candidate of BJP led NDA, in Mahagathbandhan there was a big question mark about the unanimous prime ministerial candidate.

This was the biggest plus for the BJP n the party considered him as its biggest asset. The country’s electorates have therefore while equating Narendra Modi’s personality with other non BJP opposition leaders found him extremely credible behind whom stood the entire party and its rank n file solidly n credibly while in opposition camp there existed complete confusion and delusion.

The election which started with debates and discussions on programmes and policies and repeated attacks by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi using the Rafale, unemployment n agrarian distress including demonetisation and GST issues, finally came down to personality cult with prime minister Narendra Modi dominating the scene with his impressive political histrionics termed as rhetorics by his arch rivals.

The BJP and even its alliance partners utilized Modi’s image, his fascinating pictures and programmes including capitalising on the post Pulwama situation thus capturing the election at the pan India level, if the current poll exit results are to be relied upon.

If the BJP repeats this time as well and Narendra Modi becomes the prime minister it would primarily ne the Modi personality cult that would be be given credit than anything else as all other issues of regional n national significance stood diluted as was the case in the last assembly elections of 2017 as well when BJP snatched power from Congress in 16 states n in total 19 with its alliance partners.