Contrary to this belief, Gujarat has the fifth largest number of corrupted representatives in Parliament. It has 11 tainted MPs in Lok Sabha against whom criminal proceedings are pending, according to a survey by Association of Democratic Reforms. UP has the largest number of corrupted MPS in Lok Sabha with 31 MPs, followed by Maharashtra with 26 corrupted MPs and Bihar with 18 corrupted MPs. The anomaly between the State and Centre in case of Gujarat reflects Mr. Modi’s dwindling power to rein in corrupted Gujarat leaders in Lok Sabha. Mr Modi might have exerted his power in his own state. But at the Central level his power of rein on corrupted Gujarat MPs ebbed. He has to get rid of his corrupt MPs to sustain his charismatic leadership as a projected Prime Minister of the country. A popular thought is that Mr Modi’s development works veiled the corrupt images of Modi’s representatives in Lok Sabha. There are rare reports in the media about Gujarat’s representation of corrupted MPs in Parliament.

The common ire against UPA is that the corruption was the main cause for high inflation in the country. Inflation, snowballed by black marketers and hoarders, are the common features before any general elections. But, this is the first time that the whole country is witnessing high inflation before the State elections. This reveals that the country is embroiled by active indulgence by black marketers and hoarders and it lost its control at the Centre for strong administration to nip in the bud.

UPA too achieved high GDP growth of 8-9 percent during 2004-2009. But the spiral growth in corruption has negative spillover on the growth. GDP growth slipped to 5 percent in 2012-13. Corruption is the result of nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and the criminals. The 2G scam, coalgate, Adarsh Housing Society scam and failure of Commonwealth games are the vivid examples of the nexuses between politicians and bureaucrats. In 2012, India was ranked 94th out of 176 countries in the corruption list, according to a survey by Transparency International.

Mr Modi’s political supremacy surged by his development works. The popular perception is that the fruits of development shadowed the corruptions in Gujarat. The State achieved second highest growth in GDP during the tenure of Mr Modi between 2005-06 to 2011-12. Mr Modi is known for running his corrupt-free state. This lured the foreign investors to invest in Gujarat. Despite being besieged by tense border situation, Gujarat emerged the second biggest foreign investment destination in 2011-12 in the country.

Mr Modi has been projected the BJP candidate for Prime Minister in the 2014 general election. In every deliverance and speech Mr Modi urged for development. To spill the beans of his secular image, he asserted that the country needs more shouchalaya than temples. Can Mr Modi transpire his development model to the Centre and eradicate the corruption?

One argument is that it is difficult to replicate the Gujarat model for development at the Centre and drub the corruption in the country. Given the rise in power of local political parties, centre warrants for a hung government. Unlike in Gujarat, even if BJP procures largest number of seats in Lok Sabha, it will be an uphill task to get single party majority. BJP has to depend upon allies to form the government in Lok Sabha. This will weaken Mr Modi’s reign over tainted MPs from allies.

The current situation of tainted MPs in Lok Sabha , shackled by his non-secular image, prove more difficult task for Mr Modi to master the majority in the 2014 general election. BJP and Congress has equal numbers of tainted MPs in Lok Sabha – 44 each, according to Association of Democratic Reforms. However, in terms of ratio to seating MPs, BJP accounts for more ratio of tainted MPs than Congress – 38 percent for BJP against 21 percent for Congress. Given the situation, Mr Modi has to project his capability to complete the undone development works by the Congress and suppress the impact of corrupted MPs from allies.

What is the secret of Mr Modi’s success in Gujarat development and rein in corruption? Mr. Modi believed in “Minimum Government, maximum governance”. He did not believe in freebies like laptops and free electricity to the farmers. He believed that an Indian is capable of achieving what he desires, if given a little push and few resources from the Government. He believed in Government spending in infrastructure and enthuse private sector investment, free from Government control. Where clearances are mandatory, he got them done with minimum bureaucratic hassles. He was liberal with foreign investors since they have cash to invest and supplement to the domestic investors. It is this attitude that helped Gujarat Government under Modi to empower local bodies to solve their problems with water supply and irrigation with the minimum intervention by the State Government. It is this attitude that helps entrepreneurs, both large and small, to flourish in Gujarat, with minimum intervention from the Government. He is known as mentor that facilitates and not one that constrains.

If elected as Prime Minister, Mr. Modi is believed to replicate the Gujarat model of administration with “Minimum Government maximum governance”. This will witness a smaller cabinet with larger governance power. This will fade the British Raj xenophobia of ruling the country and inject people friendly administration. It is believed that days will perish when the ordinary people and small businessmen have to run pillar to post to get clearance, consuming several months. (IPA Service)