Curious Case of Ibobi & Modi: The Journey of the two Chief Ministers

Seram Neken *

Ibobi & Modi: The Journey of the two Chief Ministers

There is as much congruence as there are differences between the two Indian political personalities. Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi, who has been the chief minister of Gujarat for the last 13 years is just two years junior to Okram Ibobi, Manipur chief minister for the last 12 years now. Both of them have been taking stage at the western and the eastern edges of India. Modi was appointed the Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001 and Ibobi Singh was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur on 7 March 2002.

Okram Ibobi was elected to 4th Manipur Legislative Assembly in 1984 as an independent candidate a year before Narendra Modi turned to active politics in 1985 by joining the BJP. The two contemporary leaders have raised their power and influence in their respective states during the last one decade or so.

Modi was born to a family of grocers belonging to the backward Ghanchi-Teli (oil-presser) community on 17 September 1950 while O. Ibobi also belonging to an ordinary family in the outskirts of Thoubal was born on 19 June 1948. Modi grew up in a poor village family, helping his father sell tea and even running a tea stall with his brother near a bus terminus. Similarly, Ibobi did not belong to well-to-do and known parents.

Modi who had earlier worked in the staff canteen of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation until he became a full time propagandist of the RSS in 1970, completed his Master's degree from Gujarat University in Political science. Likewise, Okram Ibobi, a simple graduate, took keen interests in social works like establishment of educational institutions in early life.

Just as chief minister Narendra Modi toiled hard for the overall development of Gujarat, Ibobi has been overcoming challenges of governance in the insurgency-prone Manipur. Okram Ibobi, who served as Chairman of Khadi & Village Industries Board from 1985 to 1988, was re-elected to 5th State Assembly in 1990 and became Minister of Industries and MAHUD under Rishang Keishing-led government. Appointed as vice president of the congress party in 1995, Ibobi gradually rose to head the party as President of MPCC in 1999.

Thereafter, O. Ibobi occupied the highest office of the state when he was appointed Chief Minister of SPF government of Manipur for the first time in 2002, and has been leading the government till date.

Congress under Ibobi won assembly elections three times in Manipur. As a successful chief minister, Ibobi put an end to coalition politics in Manipur by winning 42 out of 60 assembly seats in 2012 elections.

Narendra Modi who uplifted Gujarat to an economic power during last three tenures, had formally joined the RSS after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and participated in the movement against the 1975 Emergency under Jayaprakash Narayan. Modi rose to prominence after organising Kanyakumari-Srinagar Ekta yatra in 1991. In 1988, Modi was elected as organizing secretary of BJP's Gujarat unit, marking his formal entry into mainstream politics. In November 1995, Modi was elected National Secretary of BJP and assigned responsibility for the party's activities in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Modi became General Secretary (Organisation) of the BJP in May 1998.

The changes brought by Modi in his first innings (2002–2007) made Gujarat an attractive investment destination. By December 2008, Gujarat managed to increase its groundwater levels at a time when they were falling in all other Indian states. As a result, production of genetically-modified Bt cotton, which could now be irrigated using tube wells, increased to become the largest in India. The boom in cotton production and utilization of semi–arid land show overwhelming agriculture growth rate of Gujarat. Gujarat recorded an agricultural growth rate of 10.97%, the highest among all Indian states. The Narendra Modi government also succeeded in bringing electricity to every village in Gujarat. Modi also greatly changed the system of power distribution in the state, with a significant impact on farmers.

During their short journeys, both of them grew from ordinary citizens to chiefs of two most important Indian states at the opposite edges of the country. A big state like Gujarat overcame economic challenges while Manipur got distinction in sports and culture amidst insurgency and chaos. The people would never forget the contributions of Modi and Ibobi in their respective states.

However, when Narendra Modi can raise itself to reign in national politics by being the prime minister, Ibobi is yet to reach beyond his native state during the same period of their political stint. What is making the difference between them is probably the broad outlook which is present in Modi and lacks in Manipur Chief Minister. Gujarat CM has been adhering to progressive efforts through scientific and modern approach, while Manipur CM is reeling under the stereotypic maintenance with the age-old conservative development approach.

There is still time for the Manipur Chief Minister to follow the way his contemporary Narendra Modi showed to the people of Gujarat and his subsequent aspirations for the nation. To an aspirant politician, the journey never ends and it shouldn't.