With 11 ministers, almost all of them considered moderates in the BJP, defeated in the polls, Narendra Modi seems all set to play a one-man game in Gujarat politics.As the moderates have been voted out, Modi may be prompted to pack his new Cabinet with hardliners, considered his loyals. He may sideline senior ministers who have won by giving them inconsequential portfolios. The impressive victory may encourage Modi to have a smaller ministry that won’t pose much problems.‘‘Since many of us have been defeated, the Chief Minister may become more autocratic. Even in decision-making, Modi, known for his arrogance, may not bother to consult new ministerial colleagues,’’ a defeated minister known for his liberal views said.The minister apprehended that Modi, riding on the Hindutva wave, may also harm the party’s interests in the long run as he is likely to replicate the Gujarat model in other states, annoying the NDA’s secular allies. ‘‘It will be interesting to watch how central BJP leaders react to Modi’s hardline agenda which the saffron brigade in Gujarat threatens to propagate across the country,’’ he said.Among the ‘‘moderate’’ ministers defeated are Suresh Mehta (Mandvi), Purshottam Rupala (Amreli), Fakirbhai Vaghela (Dasada), Babubhai Bokhiriya (Porbandar), Liladhar Vaghela (Deodar), Mulu Bera (Bhanvad), Kanji Patel (Chikhli), Ranchhod Rabari (Vagdod) and Devanand Solanki (Malia). The only two hardliners defeated are Nitin Patel (Kadi) and Vadibhai Patel (Gandhinagar). Three former ministers, Jaynarayan Vyas (Sidhpur), Kiritsinh Rana (Limbdi) and Atmaram Parmar (Gadhada), known for their ‘‘liberal and progressive’’ views too have lost.The list of new MLAs likely to get ministerial berths includes Modi’s aide Amit Shah, who won from Sarkhej, former Bajrang Dal leader Haresh Bhatt (Godhra) and Jitendra Sukhadia (Sayajigunj).Party sources said Modi may give the impression that he was not averse to moderates by accommodating liberals Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam chairman Bhupendrasinh Chudasma (elected from Dholka), Jitendra Patel (Sabarmati) and Pankaj Desai (Nadiad).With prominent Congress leaders losing, Modi will have a smooth sailing in the Assembly, said a senior Congress leader: ‘‘Barring a few like Amarsinh Chaudhary, all our new MLAs are novices.”
