Amit Shah: Man who drives Modi strategies

AHMEDABAD: "Tell my enemies not to make castles on the shore during low tide, I will surely come back like the sea," said Amit Shah quoting famous Gujarati poet Mareez to warn his political rivals within the BJP after he returned to the state after two-year legal externment in September 2012, months before the assembly elections. His anointment as BJP chief on Wednesday would be a double bonanza for the Shahs: his son Jay gets engaged on Sunday at a grand ceremony in Ahmedabad where the who's who are likely to turn up and salute this rising star being seen as Modi's heir apparent.

Appearances are deceptive. But, there is nothing cosmetic about Shah, 50. Shah has kept his needs to the minimum - for the past many years he hasn't used soap to bathe. Warm water is enough. His supporters say this is why he could cope up with conditions in Sabarmati jail where he spent three months in 2010 in connection with the Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter cases. It was only after a long legal battle in the Supreme Court that he was allowed to enter Gujarat, just in time to help Modi organise the BJP's Gujarat assembly campaign in December 2012.

Shah has often expressed his hurt over what he calls "the Congress's witch-hunt". His arrest, which came a month after his mother's death, had put a big question mark on his political career. When Shah was fighting a legal battle to get restrictions on his entry into Gujarat removed, Modi convinced him to take the externment as an opportunity to take his political career to the next level. Modi was speaking from his own experience, for he grew beyond Gujarat only during the six years exile from Gujarat from 1995 to 2001 when he was shunted out by his detractors.

Whenever Modi has found himself in any trouble, he has turned to Shah. Shah is one of the few ministers Modi listens to and agrees with on most occasions. With the possible exception of Anandiben Patel, Shah has remained the most trusted aide Modi has had since he became Gujarat CM in 2001. Shah handled a dozen portfolios including the deadly combination of home, law, prohibition and jails. Though a junior minister, he was on every important committee of the state government.

From being Modi's eyes and ears, Shah eventually became his most-trusted advisor - someone who drives most of Modi's political strategies. A Bania, his rough exterior and mannerisms are uncommon in his community known for soft, friendly social skills. "He is ruthless. He understands ground-level politics, finances, organisational issues and law better than most others. No wonder he is the most important leader after Modi today," said a senior party colleague.

Over the last decade, Modi and Shah have emerged as 'Jodi No. 1', referred to as 'safed daadhi' and 'kaali daadhi', that has ruthlessly demolished opposition. The foundation of this 'jodi' was laid almost 25 years ago. Shah comes from a family of businessmen in Mansa in rural Ahmedabad which had RSS leanings. During his days at CU Shah Science College in Ahmedabad in the early 1980s, he was active in the ABVP. He didn't make a mark in student politics though. After graduation, he started his own printing business in Ahmedabad. He later diversified into plastics, but the association with RSS and ABVP continued.

Modi joined the BJP in 1986 and was made state general secretary the next year. It was around this time that Shah first came in touch with Modi. Shah was one of the handful of young leaders who Modi took under his wings and groomed them. Ever since the bond has been unbreakable. Others like Haren Pandya and Sanjay Joshi were to betray Modi later, but not Amitbhai.

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