Any method in the madness behind ‘Nirav’ Modi’s press conference? 

Uncharacteristically Prime Minister Narendra Modi allowed party president Amit Shah to hog the limelight and do all the talking on Friday. His lame explanation was that he was merely a disciplined ‘soldier’ of the party and it was the party president who called the shots. The two most powerful men in the country sat next to each other and made efforts to exude warmth and camarederie.

As reported, the party president declared that BJP would be winning over 300 seats on its own. Narendra Modi also declared that after a long time a party with a majority would be again re-elected with a majority.

But Shah struck a wrong note when he lamented that the party could not get the media on its side. It was a strange statement to make for the chief of a party which is widely believed to have a stranglehold over the media. Why would he say that ? And why would the duo even contemplate and hint at their willingness and ability to run a coalition, if they were so certain of a landslide victory ?

At long last Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a Press conference on Friday, May 17, at BJP headquarters in Delhi with his party point-man Amit Shah seated beside him to assist the PM so ably.

Experts on prime time claimed Narendra Modi was using the party president as a shield, deflecting the few questions raised to the latter. But few had any answer to the question why the Prime Minister needed a shield in the first place.

Could the Prime Minister be trying to distance himself from the possible result of the election, in case it turns out to be unfavourable ? Could he later claim that the party had failed to convey the achievements of his government to the people ? Was it an attempt to pass the buck to the party organisation ?

The Prime Minister tried to cast the party chief in the role of a virtual General in whose presence soldiers were supposed to avoid saying much if not to keep completely quiet.

Both Modi and Shah have towered over the party and have enjoyed the kind of dominance that is rarely seen. So, the press conference could have been called for tactical reasons before May 23.

The riddle remains. And speculation continues on the shape of things to come after May 23.