Gopinath Munde’s death: Modi loses crucial minister, BJP key player just ahead of Maharashtra polls
NEW DELHI: Gopinath Munde's sudden death has dealt a harsh blow to the fledgling Narendra Modi government and BJP's plans for Maharashtra assembly polls that are barely four months away.
The early morning crash that killed Munde came at a time when the politician was enjoying renewed relevance in BJP affairs after a lean patch that had seen him even contemplate leaving the party.
Munde's selection for the politically important portfolio of rural development was a careful choice as Modi wanted to give charge of the ministry to a leader with sound grasp of ground realities.
Munde, a backward caste leader from Maharashtra's Marathwada region, knew about impoverishment and rural distress, given his own hands-on experience as a grassroots leader.
If Modi was scouting for a minister who could assess the needs of farmers and rural artisans and ensure that billions of rupees of government funds are well spent, he couldn't have done better than Munde.
Munde's departure will again expose the thin leadership reserves in BJP despite its unprecedented 282 seats in Lok Sabha. It will not be easy for Modi to find a suitable replacement.
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(Gopinath Munde taking oath as Union minister on May 26, 2014 in the new Modi government)
READ ALSO: 10 facts about Gopinath Munde's death
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(Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying his last respects to Gopinath Munde in New Delhi)
Munde's maturity and calm demeanour made him an important ally in Modi's quest to reshape governance and initiate sweeping changes in the BJP organization. A modern politician despite his subaltern roots, Munde was in sync with Modi over the need to make BJP an up to date, right of centre party.
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(Munde's daughter Pankaja and relatives during his funeral procession at BJP's Mumbai office)
The Beed MP was an important part of BJP and Modi's plans for Maharashtra, being the one leader who enjoyed recognition across the state. His grounding in RSS's "cultural nationalism" along with his OBC credentials made him very valuable for BJP's bid to woo the numerous backward castes without losing its upper caste appeal.
As deputy chief minister, Munde had acquired a reputation for being an efficient administrator who did not flinch from taking some tough decisions as home minister — he backed the police initiative to crack down on organized crime through a series of encounters.
This time, Munde was very much BJP's CM choice, as his credentials could not be questioned by Shiv Sena on the grounds of capability and experience.
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(Gopinath Munde on his wedding day)
If BJP succeeds in rewriting the terms of its political deal with Sena, as it hopes to in the light of winning 28 Lok Sabha seats to its partner's 18, Munde would have been its calling card.
READ ALSO: 'Number 3 proves fatal again for Mahajan, Munde families'
Munde had a good profile among the urban classes, being seen as a leader who did not indulge in the confrontationist politics of rural versus urban.
The late leader's big asset was his relaxed, genial persona that helped him build relationships across party lines, a trait that stood him in good stead. The effusive and emotional testimonials of allies and opponents are evidence of this.
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The early morning crash that killed Munde came at a time when the politician was enjoying renewed relevance in BJP affairs after a lean patch that had seen him even contemplate leaving the party.
Munde's selection for the politically important portfolio of rural development was a careful choice as Modi wanted to give charge of the ministry to a leader with sound grasp of ground realities.
Munde, a backward caste leader from Maharashtra's Marathwada region, knew about impoverishment and rural distress, given his own hands-on experience as a grassroots leader.
If Modi was scouting for a minister who could assess the needs of farmers and rural artisans and ensure that billions of rupees of government funds are well spent, he couldn't have done better than Munde.
Munde's departure will again expose the thin leadership reserves in BJP despite its unprecedented 282 seats in Lok Sabha. It will not be easy for Modi to find a suitable replacement.
(Gopinath Munde taking oath as Union minister on May 26, 2014 in the new Modi government)
READ ALSO: 10 facts about Gopinath Munde's death
(Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying his last respects to Gopinath Munde in New Delhi)
Munde's maturity and calm demeanour made him an important ally in Modi's quest to reshape governance and initiate sweeping changes in the BJP organization. A modern politician despite his subaltern roots, Munde was in sync with Modi over the need to make BJP an up to date, right of centre party.
(Munde's daughter Pankaja and relatives during his funeral procession at BJP's Mumbai office)
The Beed MP was an important part of BJP and Modi's plans for Maharashtra, being the one leader who enjoyed recognition across the state. His grounding in RSS's "cultural nationalism" along with his OBC credentials made him very valuable for BJP's bid to woo the numerous backward castes without losing its upper caste appeal.
As deputy chief minister, Munde had acquired a reputation for being an efficient administrator who did not flinch from taking some tough decisions as home minister — he backed the police initiative to crack down on organized crime through a series of encounters.
This time, Munde was very much BJP's CM choice, as his credentials could not be questioned by Shiv Sena on the grounds of capability and experience.
(Gopinath Munde on his wedding day)
If BJP succeeds in rewriting the terms of its political deal with Sena, as it hopes to in the light of winning 28 Lok Sabha seats to its partner's 18, Munde would have been its calling card.
READ ALSO: 'Number 3 proves fatal again for Mahajan, Munde families'
Munde had a good profile among the urban classes, being seen as a leader who did not indulge in the confrontationist politics of rural versus urban.
The late leader's big asset was his relaxed, genial persona that helped him build relationships across party lines, a trait that stood him in good stead. The effusive and emotional testimonials of allies and opponents are evidence of this.
