Since December 1, our reporters have been on the campaign trail in Gujarat. Here, they respond to queries from readers. If you want to know more about this section, and read our reporters' despatches, click to Ask our reporters.

Jewellaji,

We know Narendra Modi is a picture of confidence. What about other politicians in Gujarat? Are they confused, diffident, or equally confident?

Mahesh V
USA

Jewella C Miranda replies: You rarely see diffidence in politicians during campaign time. To me, Modi came across as rather defensive in speech, and fairly tense. As for the others, some from the ruling party gave the impression of cockiness. Some others with whom I spent a little while appeared collected. Maybe these images will give you an indication of what I mean.

Ms Sheela Bhatt,

I am a mechanical engineer brought up in Gujarat. My question is: Are people listening to liberal thinking at all?

The reason why I ask is, when I was growing up, I heard many Congressmen saying the same things as the present BJP crowd. They wanted to fight a final war with Muslims and finish them off. Muslims, to them, were only faceless voters who could be ignored except at election time.

Now the BJP has captured all Hindu votes; there never was any liberal thought in the Gujarati middle-class. How are they reacting to Modi's campaign against Muslims and Musharraf?

Kirtidev Bhatt

Sheela Bhatt replies: I feel a liberal voice is not heard because when communal organisations were working hard in urban slums and tribal areas, the so-called secular Congressmen were busy with petty politics and corruption.

Dear Sheela,

If it is Congress that comes to power in this election, do you think it is out of love for the party the people voted for them? Or is it because they have no other alternative?

Naresh Sinroja
Rajkot

Sheela replies: If Congress comes to power it will be because people feel the BJP's Hindutva and their assurances are questionable. They think BJP is not sincere in building the Ram temple. And that it is using the Ayodhya issue to get votes. I think the voters' perception that BJP is practising phoney Hindutva and their inefficient governance -- and this indeed is a sore point -- will cost them many seats. I know the Congress has got very good support from Muslims, Christians and Kshtriyas. The BJP leaders too are aware of this.

Dear sir,

Do you think Modi's campaign against the Congress has worked? Or has it been a waste? If the BJP comes to power, what turn will Indian politics take?

Vicky

Amberish K Diwanji replies: In central Gujarat where I toured, there clearly was a pro-BJP wave. I am not sure whether that was true for the whole of Gujarat; that needs more study.

The election comes after the riots, at a time when Hindus and Muslims are divided, and the BJP is seen as a party for the Hindus and the Congress a party for the Muslims. All other issues in this part of Gujarat appear irrelevant.

Amberishbhai,

Various depressing scenarios are imagined if Modi comes back to power. One, saffronisation of Indian politics and death of the Constitution. Two, sidelining Atalji and even Advani, hardliners will take over the reins of the party. Do you think BJP can get a clear majority on its own in Lok Sabha?

Mahesh

Amberish replies: Saffronisation of politics has been on for a long time and is a reality. It will run its course, the way earlier socialism was propounded by everyone, at least in theory, till the idea lost its relevance. Thus, in a sense, it is likely to gain further ground for the next decade or two before the ideology itself is seriously challenged and curbed.

The Constitution is rather more stable, and as yet, there is no direct threat to it. Also, to imagine a particular party can tamper with it and get away is not easy; it is possible, but not so probable.

About Vajpayee and Advani being sidelined, certainly Vajpayee is becoming quite irrelevant. Advani will remain relevant for some more time. There is a younger generation waiting to take over, as they must. Let us see how they develop.

But it will not be easy for hardliners to take over. First, let us note that if propagating hardline Hindutva is a sure shot for success, most other politicians will adopt it since all they really want is to advance their careers rather than an ideology. The fact is, as most people know, hardline Hindutva has its limitations and serious contradictions in attracting followers.

The Gujarat situation is peculiar due to the way the Gujarati society has developed and the effect of Godhra. But the rest of India is not Gujarat, and hence whether such hardline Hindutva will work is a moot point.

Amberishji,

Is the election in Gujarat neck-and-neck? If Modi comes to power, will the political map of Gujarat be changed forever?

Sameer Inamdar

Amberish replies: The elections are quite a close fight, but the BJP has the edge in most places, which is likely to translate into a victory.

About politics changing: can't say so early, but it will be interesting to watch. Certainly the Hindutva ideology will get a fresh lease of life.

Sir,

I have a very straightforward question. Why is it that  riots affecting the minority community are always given a lot of media coverage while those affecting the majority community are ignored? Is it not vote politics, played both by media and politicians? I wonder who is using who?

Expecting a straightforward answer,

Bhagyalakshmi

R Swaminathan replies: The issue is riots, all right. But then that is only part of the picture.

In Gujarat, after the Godhra incident, the role of various institutions of the State -- police, civil administration, distress redressal mechanisms -- were subverted to such an extent that I would not be far off the mark if the riots were categorised as 'State-sponsored violence'. How else can you explain a mob trapping an MP and burning him down, even after he had made close to 80 calls over five hours to almost everyone in the state administration?

Incidentally, the Godhra incident was prominently highlighted by the media. To call the media biased would be an injustice.

Dear Swaminathan,

After I saw the coverage on the Gujarat election, I completely lost faith in the media. The media manipulate facts and statistics. And because it (media) cannot mess up completely with the exit polls, it publishes the exit poll stats in a more realistic manner.

I would not be surprised to see other online news portals publish personal opinions as news items. But of late, I am appalled to see the more reliable portals like yours publish garbage. 

For instance, see the headline 'We don't need a monster like Modi'. This was an opinion of a voter and it should have been published as it is. There is no reason to highlight this as a headline!

When will the media grow up and take moral responsibility? Do you agree the media role is to enlighten the readers with the facts and figures and not to publish cooked-up news?

I am sure this will go to trash. Prove me I am wrong!

Regards,
Svalluru

Swaminathan replies: Are you telling me the opinion of a voter is not worth being made a headline? Or according to you, only 'important' people should make headlines?

As for your allegation we dish out 'cooked-up news', I would be obliged if you could substantiate it.

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