Why PM Modi trusts Amit Shah so much?

Who could have predicted that the centuries-old movement for the construction of the Ram Temple would be resolved by any government without a hitch? Who believed that the issue of Triple Talaq, considered taboo in Indian politics, could be boldly addressed by a government and abolished through a bill passed in both houses of Parliament? Was anyone convinced that Article 370 could be revoked from Kashmir? Yet, all of this came to pass. While the Prime Minister's firm resolve deserves recognition, Amit Shah's adept strategy should be equally acknowledged

It is sheer chance that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is a bridge between the Narendra Modi’s government and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has been living in the same house where BJP patriarch Atal Behari Vajpayee and Harbert Baker, the architect of old Parliament House as well as South and North Block had lived in the past. It is no secret that while working from his official residence, he would be thinking of Atal Behari Vajpayee for an inspiration. It is no secret that from deciding the sale of Air India to the repeal of Article 370 (ending Jammu and Kashmir's special status), appointing Arif Mohammad Khan as the Governor of Kerala it's Amit Shah who is the embodiment of Modi 2.0's Goals. It is most likely that he would be the key player in implementing the promises of his boss in future too.

Arguably Amit Shah has been the closest confidant and chief strategist of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi and Shah work together smoothly. He is among the most trusted person of Prime Minister Modi as he knows how to implement the goals and programmes of his Prime Minister. For some unknown reasons, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has started a baseless debate that Amit Shah to replace Narendra Modi in the near future. Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday returned fire at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief's swipe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is setting the ground for Mr Shah to take over as Prime Minister in future. Amit Shah has made it clear that Modi ji would remain Prime Minister in future too.

It's been a decade since Amit Shah entered national politics. Much has been said and written about his personality, temperament, and goals. He has been dubbed the modern-day Chanakya, a tireless worker, and an exceptional organizer. Yet, despite the abundance of commentary, Amit Shah himself remains tight-lipped. He is perhaps the only figure in Indian politics whose actions speak louder than words. Amit Shah may not be flashy, but his actions are unique and impactful.

Before 2014, few in Delhi knew him. When the Lok Sabha election results arrived in May 2014, and the BJP secured 71 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, people finally realized that a masterful electoral strategist had emerged from Gujarat – his name, Amit Shah. He was the one entrusted with the responsibility of managing Uttar Pradesh during the Lok Sabha elections. His aversion to modern political ostentation became evident in early 2014 when he was stationed in Lucknow. One late evening, while waiting to board a flight from Lucknow to Delhi, he stood alone, briefcase in hand. There was no entourage, no fanfare. Someone recognized him from afar and offered to carry his briefcase as a formality. He politely declined, expressing his gratitude. He then proceeded towards the plane, carrying his own briefcase. Even the airline staff refrained from approaching him with any formalities. Upon landing in Delhi, the same individual again requested to carry his briefcase to the car as a gesture of respect. Amit Shah, once more, politely declined.

It wasn't as if he was a newcomer to the BJP before 2014. He had been active in electoral politics since 1997, holding numerous positions, including Home Minister of Gujarat, before 2014. But he never embraced ostentation then, and he continues to distance himself from it even now.

It was likely decided in June 2014, during a meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, which Amit Shah should be given a permanent and significant role in national politics, rather than being sent to Delhi for just one election. This responsibility manifested in the form of the BJP's National President position. The decision made by the RSS and the party proved to be astute. Upon assuming the presidency, he faced elections in four major States: Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Jharkhand. The BJP emerged victorious in all four States. If Prime Minister Modi was credited as the primary architect of this success, Amit Shah followed closely behind.

Amit Shah entered politics through cooperative elections, and today, as the country's Home Minister, he still operates with the spirit of cooperation. It's no surprise that he has admirers within the BJP. Remarkably, he also has well-wishers within opposition-ruled States, particularly among Chief Ministers of border States or those grappling with Naxalite insurgency. Amit Shah, too, readily acknowledges the good work of his opposition counterparts. He has publicly praised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for curbing Naxalism and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Singh for his adept handling of the Khalistani Amritpal Singh situation. This is not merely a display of magnanimity but also reflects Amit Shah's awareness of his role as a steward of the federal system.

In the 2009 general election, the BJP secured 18.80 per cent of the total votes cast nationwide. With Modi's entry into national politics in 2014, the BJP's vote share increased to 31 per cent. However, the subsequent five years witnessed an unprecedented surge in BJP membership and votes. In the 2019 general election, they garnered 37.36 per cent

of the votes. This period coincided with Narendra Modi's full five-year tenure as Prime Minister and Amit Shah's leadership as BJP President. Their partnership not only delivered a second consecutive majority government to India but also bestowed upon the BJP the distinction of being the world's largest political party. The BJP boasts an official membership exceeding 18 crores (180 million). It holds 301 seats in the Lok Sabha, 93 seats in the Rajya Sabha, and over 4,000 MLA seats.

Even though the BJP operates on the principle of collective leadership, no one can deny that Amit Shah has remained a true grassroots worker, from pasting party posters on the streets of Gujarat to his tenure as National President. Party workers and leaders who interact with him still attest that very few possess his attentiveness in listening to people's concerns and his concise yet insightful way of presenting his perspective.

The concept of "ruling" is absent from Amit Shah's vocabulary. His inherent nature is to work. Consequently, tasks that seem insurmountable to others become manageable for him. Who could have predicted that the centuries-old movement for the construction of the Ram Temple would be resolved by any government without a hitch? Who believed that the issue of Triple Talaq, considered taboo in Indian politics, could be boldly addressed by a government and abolished through a bill passed in both houses of Parliament? Was anyone convinced that Article 370 could be revoked from Kashmir? Yet, all of this came to pass. While the Prime Minister's firm resolve deserves recognition, Amit Shah's adept strategy should be equally acknowledged.

As the nation's journey is perpetual, so too are the challenges it faces. However, it is crucial to observe and analyze who, how, with what intent, and for whom solutions are sought and problems are eliminated.

Amit Shah is not inherently harsh. His leadership style naturally involves uniting party workers and keeping them consistently engaged. However, to certain opposition leaders, he appears as a tough and uncompromising politician. This is because he is a man dedicated to his goals, not a politician beholden to individuals. No one's cunning tactics work on him, be it a fellow politician or a journalist. While he adheres to the decorum of language, he masterfully counters disrespectful language with straightforward yet fitting words that silence his detractors. He pays no heed to frivolous matters or individuals. He is unfazed by Lalu Prasad Yadav's accusations of him being a fascist or his jabs about his weight. Amit Shah is a leader of unwavering character. He stands by his decisions. His role as a coordinator between the organization and the government remains unchanged. This ensures that there are no contradictions between party and government decisions. Amit Shah is a leader in a league of his own.

(The author is Delhi-based senior journalist and writer. He is author of Gandhi's Delhi which has brought to the forth many hidden facts about Mahatma Gandhi)