Of course the BJP cannot be blamed or envied for events choreographed and telecast to appeal to the wider audience as part of the massive road show by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There is no denying the fact that the spectacle was staged to present him as a larger-than-life character. Mr. Modi must be made to tower over other leaders as he runs his party’s campaign as a one-man band and attempts a recreation of the 2014 Modi wave.
Perhaps he deemed his unapologetic Hindutva pitch as necessary. The perception is that his popularity has slipped on account of unfulfilled promises and unmitigated distress.
G. David Milton,
Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
As the Election Commission of India continues to drag its feet on several complaints filed by the Opposition parties against a series of violations of the model code of conduct by the Prime Minister, Mr. Modi appears to continue to do as he pleases. He seems determined, presumably emboldened by the EC choosing to remain ominously quiet. The EC’s attitude raises disturbing questions about the commission’s neutrality. This is worrisome. Perhaps another nudge or even a rap on the knuckles from the Supreme Court to act swiftly on complaints of poll code violations alone would make the EC sit up and act. How sad!
S.K. Choudhury,
Bengaluru