Both the BJP and media channels have created a big song and dance about the government exerting influence over the Doordarshan (DD) TV channel to edit an interview given to it by Mr. Mr. Narendra Modi. All attention is directed to the deletion by DD of Mr. Modi’s remark that he considered Mrs. Priyanka Vadra as his daughter. Mrs. Vadra heightened attention to this remark by her adverse retort. However, deliberately or otherwise this trivial exchange has only succeeded in diverting attention from the really significant remarks by Mr. Modi also deleted in the interview that are being glossed over.

Earlier Mr. Arvind Kejriwal and others had alleged secret collusion between the BJP and Congress. Indeed, the main burden of Mr. Kejriwal’s criticism against both national parties focused on this aspect for which he highlighted the alleged role of Reliance industries in patronizing both parties. In his DD interview Mr. Modi made startling claims that could be construed to vindicate Mr. Kejriwal’s criticism. This portion of the interview was also deleted by DD. That is the significant aspect of the interview and its censorship that should merit attention.

Mr. Modi in his interview said: “I have good personal relations with Mr. Ahmed Patel. I used to eat at his place. It is only nowadays that finds it difficult to talk, doesn’t even pick up the phone. We used to call him Babubhai earlier, but since we can’t call him that in public, so Mian Patel.”

Mr. Ahmed Patel issued a rejoinder and claimed that he had only once shared a meal with Mr. Modi many years ago, which fact had been conveyed to late Rajiv Gandhi and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. He said that he had not once conversed with Mr. Modi for many years. He made no reference of course to the fact that his political protégé, Ms Asifa Khan, who continues to laud Mr. Patel as her mentor to whom she remains committed, joined the BJP two years ago to become the party’s prominent Muslim spokesperson on TV after being personally recruited by Mr. Modi.

It is intriguing what led Mr. Modi who rarely gives TV interviews to display such candour to, of all channels, the government owned DD channel. The curious aspect is that earlier it was the BJP which was embarrassed most by alleged proximity to the Congress. Now it seems that it is the other way round. Mr. Modi is flaunting his proximity to the Congress which is distancing itself from the BJP.

Among the many puzzles created by the conspiracy-infected prevalent political culture, this is one more puzzle. Could Mr. Modi’s disclosure of his claimed proximity to Mr. Patel indicate changing electoral fortunes? Is there a perception now that the anti-incumbency-pro-Modi wave is beginning to falter?