For Dussehra, surgical strike turns Modi into Lord Ram of UP’s epic poll war

In a departure from established convention and brimming with political overtones, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will most likely be the chief guest in one of the oldest Ramlila in Lucknow.

This is seen as a politically loaded move as traditionally the prime minister of the day attends the Ramlila organised near the Red Fort in the national capital. The PM is also likely to address a gathering at the Aishbagh Ramlila in Lucknow.

This will be the first time when any PM will be in the Uttar Pradesh capital as the chief guest, and, if state BJP leaders are to be believed, this will lead to the victory of good (BJP) over evil (SP, BSP).

Aishbagh Ramlila has its own historical significance as it is also called as one of the oldest Ramlilas observed in the country, with the noteworthy legend that the tradition of Ramlila had its birth in this place dating back to almost 500 years. Right opposite the Aishbagh Ramlila maidan, there is Idgah Masjid, which is Lucknow’s biggest mosque.

Aishbagh Ramlilas are always theme-based. Last year, it was the ban on cow slaughter; and this year, it is expected that the theme could be related to cross-border terrorism, given the spike in Indo-Pak tension and the Army’s surgical strike across the LoC.

But will this Dussehra be able to salvage the BJP in UP.

A UP BJP leader said that post surgical strike, “Prime Minister Modi’s stock has risen like never before and if a parallel can be drawn, he is just like Lord Ram who has vanquished or given a befitting reply to the Ravan in Pakistan”. Then after a five-second pause, he laughingly says, “In Lucknow, he will vanquish his political opponents”.

Another leader also added that the sobriquet "56-inch chest" earned by Modi and the frenzy around post-surgical strike is almost identical to what it was pre 2014. “PM talking at the Ramlila will definitely surge the morale of the cadre. Though there was a bit of apprehension after the Uri terror attack, the surgical strike has reinforced his macho image,” he added.

“And he need not say anything related to the surgical strike or India-Pakistan issue. The symbolism of Dussehra – victory of good over evil, imagery of Lord Ram will automatically convey the message to cadre. Nothing more needs to be done”, the BJP leader mused.

Though the PM and party chief Amit Shah have given strict instructions to the spokespersons and the ministers that they should not speak out of turn and gloat on the issue of surgical strike, but that has not stopped the enthused cadre from going overt over this covert operation.

Already posters of Narendra Modi, with dialogues of Hindi films paraphrased, are doing the rounds. In the prime minister’s constituency, Varanasi, Shiv Sena, BJP’s national ally, has put posters showing Narendra Modi as Lord Ram. In this poster Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is shown as Meghnad, whereas Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif is shown as Ravan.

Though the party vehemently denies that these posters have been officially sanctioned, nobody is listening. The cadre is buoyed and there is no stopping them irrespective of the posturing done by the central leadership.

Though the sources have said that the PM has said that no minister should speak on this issue except the Army and no chest-thumping or politicisation should be done, every minister wants to have a slice of surgical attack. Though the ruling party may officially say that it doesn’t want to exploit the issue politically, but the reality on the ground is exactly opposite.

On October 6, defence minister Manohar Parikkar is travelling to two places in Uttar Pradesh, Agra and Lucknow, where he is going to be felicitated for the successful completion of the surgical strike.

The PM is going to be complimented for the decision and the Army for execution. UP BJP chief, Keshav Prasad Maurya, is going to be present in both places.

The political import of this felicitation in Uttar Pradesh is not lost on anybody.

The party may posture in Delhi that it does not want to exploit this strike politically, but in UP this surgical strike is the new Ram Mandir as far as the BJP is concerned. If sources in the UP BJP are any indication to go by, the party will not lose any chance to project the PM as someone who brought the honour of the country back. A senior leader admitted, “In the current scheme of things, nothing beats the rising fervour of patriotism. If there is an election right now in Uttar Pradesh, BJP will win hands down”.

Sources in the UP BJP admit that the party is acutely aware of the fact that they still don’t have a leader with pan UP presence. Without a CM face and no clarity on candidate list, there is feeling within the party that like in 2014, PM Narendra Modi will have to bear the cross of carrying the BJP through in all important UP election.

Also read: Is Arvind Kejriwal saluting PM for surgical strikes, or is there more?