Namo had sensed that to succeed in politics, one need to work hard and win confidence and support of the people. He had started early in life and sacrificed personal comforts and even gave up his early marriage to get wedded to public life. His rise within the party was partly due to the munificence of LalKrishna Advani, the original Loh purush of BJP. LK Advani could spot his talent and Namo was his sarathi in the (in)famous rath yathra. Advani made him General Secretary of theParty and also the CM of Gujarat replacing Keshubai Patel. From that moment it was rise rise and only rise for Namo no going back. From 2002 riots, Modi assiduosly built up his image due to huge PR Machinery outsourced to an agency and aided by his admirers in the party and sympathisers outside. Modi caught the attention of RSS top brass lately but just at the right time when theparty was facing leadership vaccum with the gen next leaders chosen by RSS liks Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitely could not take the might of Gandhi clan and their charisma. Just then UPA-II was mired in controversies. The anti corruption crusader Anna Hazare led his andolans in New Delhi demanding Lok Pal and a new out fit Aam Admi Party was seen hijacking the idea which is naturally reserved for the main opposition party.

The reason why RSS chose Namo was not for his administrative acumen, his deft handling of party in Gujarat. It was a reward for showing the Muslims their place. Following the torching of Sabarmati express atGodhra, Namo took a tactical step in allowing Sangh Parivar to take revenge on the alleged perpetrators with his police silently watching and at times conniving at the retaliatory strikes., A lot has been written on the Gujarat pogrom  with claims and counter claims but that was precisely the reason Namo was chosen to be the leader of tomorrow. Till today, he has not even formally tendered an apology to his failure to protect minorities. EvenVajpayee was furious and wanted him axed. Advani ensured that his pupil was saved. Today, Advani is a man driven to the extreme corner in the party lookingfatigued, beaten and cornered. The amount of verbal vitroils heaped on him in cyberspace byModi brigade. when opposed Namo annointment is still fresh in our memory.

It must be said to the credit of Namo that he used this opportunity to reach to thepeople of India. In his inimitable style often bordering on arrogance, he taunted theGandhis for their failure to transformIndia when they had chances to do so. He called this a Mabeti sarkar used his choicest epithets to describe his rivalRahul and his mother. He travelled to states where BJP was not existent ever and converted them in to strongholds using Development as a theme in some, religious bigotry in some, blaming the UPA for ills of economy at the other,thretening illegal migrants at another place. He spoke the right kind of discourse at the right places to strike a chord with people. He spoke of development in north east, spoke of illegal migrants in Bengal, invoked Hindu mythology at Varanasi, made a mincement of his opposition with a oratory never heard of in Indian politics. Few could match his oratory not certainly Rahul who was plain speaking.

The cardinal sin of Congress was to ignore this man. Since he was from a humble origin, Congress top leadership decided to ignore him rather than engage him To engage with him was seen below their standards.Second rung leaders likeDigvijay Singh poured venom on him but they did not stick. Dr.MMS could have used his skills if any to highlight the achievements of his governments but he did not because he knew he is not going to gain anything. Chidambaram did some little to repudiate sucm claims of Namo on economy with his brand of statistical brilliance but they did notconnect with the voter. By the time Rahul and Sonia realised that this man needs to be countered- a full 6 months later in the late stages of the campaign,Namo effect has happened. Modi as an idea, as a brand has established connect with a large section of the voter. 24 X 7 media channels ran stories on Namo continuously inundating the drawing room of every household. Even Prasar Bharathi had to air an interview of Namo- a partially edited one that which acknowledged that Namo has come a long way from a regional leader to a national leader.  They had no issues except communal agenda hidden behing the campaign. Yet again the Muslim flock deserted the party despite its best efforts to champion their causes or this resulted in what is known as Hindu consolidatation of votes, a reverse polarisation. such was the angst among the large sectionof the voter against UPAII for which I hold Dr MMS singularly responsible unlike others who are more than fair in their assessment of this man to take the blame to the door step of 10 Janpath.

Namo has made a humble begining in his acceptance speech. If he could have his way, if he could wriggle out of Sangh Parivar influence in decision making which Even Vajapayee at his best could not, which was even denied to Advani because he chose to describe Jinnah as Secular, it is good for the Country. If Modi and his brand of advisors really concentrate on Vikas and ignore debatable and controversial issues, in this hour of majaritarian triumph, I will stand up and salute this man supposed to lead thisnationto greater glory and heights.

It is upto you NarendraDamodardasModi to take this challenge.