A self-confessed ‘‘bad orator’’, Ashok Gehlot is surviving on a concoction of black pepper and honey these days. The incumbent, who is tipped to get a second term as Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Gehlot is suffering the adverse effects of his ‘‘growing popularity’’. They want him everywhere, in all the 200 constituencies because the Congress knows that only he can bring in the votes. From losing a school election by four votes, a Jodhpur University one by 400 votes and the MLA election in 1977 by 4,000 votes, Gehlot went on to win the parliamentary election by 50,000 and has not looked back since. From being one of the youngest members of parliament to being crowned ‘‘CM No. 1’’, Gehlot has stunned everyone with his political acumen. His no-nonsense manner and spotlessly clean image are being termed as two issues that will work like a charm for the Congress in these polls. A leader who doesn’t ‘‘indulge in petty politics’’ and thinks it is wrong for politicians’ children to ‘‘parachute into the election battlefield’’, Gehlot goes about the campaigning process in a businesslike fashion, strictly by the clock. Arriving in Borada village on time, Gehlot cuts short a speaker, rolls up his sleeves and delivers a matter-of-fact speech. Besides informing the people that he really doesn’t have time for long-winded political monologues, he gives them a quick low-down of his government’s work, adds that they are intelligent people and cryptically asks them to vote for the Congress candidate. Before the applause can die down, he is halfway to his next destination. ‘‘I feel that there is a pro-incumbency factor working in my favour,’’ he says confidently. ‘‘People today look at the work done my by government with amazement. They are amazed that a drought was managed so well. I think there is a general feeling of ‘Aisa bhi hota hai kya!’.’’ Gehlot is sure of victory because he sees it in people’s eyes. ‘‘When I go to villages, I watch people. Their eyes reflect what they are thinking, if they are happy or angry. It’s their response that motivates you to work. They have been my inspiration.’’ However, he brushes aside his growing stature in the Congress. ‘‘Look, the title of CM No. 1 actually means that the state has come forward.Surveys are good indicators but they never make me complacent.’’ So he moves on tirelessly, standing at a crowded market square in Gulabpura, taking about development. ‘‘Development is the only issue. You don’t see me spending time in fixing equations to try to come to power. There has been so much development that people will have no choice but to vote us back to power,’’ he asserts. Travelling through the region where he scored a political six with the arrest of Togadia, Gehlot refers to the Hindutva agenda in passing, reliving the glory days following the arrest. ‘‘I was never worried about a backlash after Togadia’s arrest. The people don’t like these things. No citizen wants his peace to be shattered. During riots it unfortunately becomes about Hindus and Muslims. I was confident that it would be appreciated in the whole country.’’ ‘‘When I became CM, I knew every mistake will cost me,’’ he adds. ‘‘And either the individual or the country will have to pay. Take the Gujarat riots, the Ram Mandir tamasha or the terrorist attacks—they are all prices being paid for mistakes made in the past. I made sure I didn’t make any.’’ But the real feather in Gehlot cap is his management of the drought. ‘‘People are sensitive about these issues. Everyone knew it was the worst drought of the century and they were watching closely to see if people died of thirst or hunger. We made sure they didn’t.’’ And that is the strongest weapon in the Gehlot armoury today. Most Congress workers admit today that if Prime Minister Vajpayee had visited the state during the drought it would have diluted the Congress campaign. Gehlot himself exploits this fact to the hilt, reminding people that Sonia Gandhi travelled through he drought-hit state and Vajpayee didn’t. ‘‘This entire campaign is based on Soniaji,’’ confesses Gehlot. ‘‘The kind of interest she has taken, holding regular chief ministers’ conferences, checking on whether the manifesto is being implemented. I believe that a lot depends on the leadership and the message it is sending. We have followed her spirit.’’ And he seems to have done that well. From the catchy slogans he has coined to the posters, Gehlot’s presence in Rajasthan today is larger than life. As a child, he did some magic shows with his father. So does it feel like magic these days for the CM No. 1. Gehlot won’t say, though he says there is nothing wrong with magic. ‘‘In fact, it is a good art.’’
