I'm a Master in India

Chapter 280: A Resounding Victory

Elections in India are held regionally, not simultaneously.

In Gujarat's 182 constituencies, voting began progressively in March.

For swing districts, the night before the vote is the most competitive, as vote-buying incidents are bound to occur.

And the methods of vote-buying are varied: directly giving money or hosting fake weddings with good food and wine for villagers are standard practices.

Some radical opposition parties, to gain the votes of single men, would directly hire girls from a flower street and send them to serve door-to-door.

Didn't expect that? Sending prostitutes to the door is also a form of vote-buying.

The Indian People's Party, which honestly solves problems for voters, is truly a clear stream in a muddy torrent.

Slightly less extreme methods include giving gifts like cattle, fertilizer, and seeds to villagers, with specific operations varying by constituency.

Each political party knows exactly what each constituency needs, and they carefully distribute benefits, fearing that the opposing party might seize on any misstep.

Vote-buying doesn't just happen in swing districts; other established strongholds also need to be taken care of.

Every election season is a time of great harvest for voters.

They can take gifts from various parties, but the final decision of who to vote for remains in their hands.

However, one thing is certain: parties that don't give gifts during the campaign will definitely lose, because their competitors all do.

According to the Indian Election Commission's regulations, as long as a political party truthfully reports its expenditure details, there are no limits on how much money it can spend.

However, the Election Commission has strict limits on candidates' expenditures; for example, a regional council candidate's expenses must not exceed 1.2 million rupees.

In reality, no one pays attention to this number; they use black money and don't keep accounts of how much they spend.

As the voting date approached, the vote-buying competition in the swing districts intensified.

Modi personally led a team, setting up ambushes on the roads, primarily intercepting suspicious transport trucks.

In election competition, catching evidence of the opponent's vote-buying is also a tactic to defeat them.

Mo Da Xian received intelligence in advance and, with the police, made accurate arrests.

In just one week, they seized hundreds of thousands of barrels of alcohol and thousands of kilograms of dark chocolate.

Yes, that's right, many politicians use things like marijuana and opium as vote-buying gifts to win over undecided voters.

This was absolutely outrageous; Ron was stunned when he heard the news.

He considered himself to have seen too many crazy ideas, yet he still couldn't integrate into India's secular world because he wasn't deviant enough.

Damn it, politicians giving opium to voters!

It's criminal, truly criminal! No wonder it's the largest democracy, too free.

“So you know, those people's vote-buying methods, there's nothing you can't imagine, only what they can't do,” Modi shrugged.

“Our laws have little binding force,” Ron nodded.

“That's the problem; we should severely punish those people.”

Mo Da Xian would not be polite to those Indian National Congress members; he immediately found reporters to expose the matter.

The opposing candidate not only lost the constituency but was also forced to resign from the party, completely falling from grace.

“Winning the last few swing districts should be no problem, right?” Ron was waiting for the final results.

“An unprecedented victory!” Mo Da Xian was very excited.

On March 14th, the election results were announced. The Indian People's Party won 121 of the 182 legislative seats in Gujarat.

The Indian National Congress, which had governed Gujarat for decades, now had to hand over power to its sworn enemy.

Everyone knew that the political landscape of the West Indian economic state was about to undergo a massive change, with too many positions opening up and too many lucrative opportunities waiting to be divided.

The key to this election victory was Mo Da Xian's “Pilgrimage Journey” strategy.

The so-called Pilgrimage Journey was similar to the “Chariot Journey” of 1990, both aiming to raise the party's prestige through large-scale touring propaganda.

The convoy parade when Advani gave a speech in Jaipur last time was a Pilgrimage Journey, and the effect was very good.

Modi, by winning over key figures such as powerful individuals and wealthy people in rural areas, built a power network covering the entire state, greatly weakening the grassroots rule of the Indian National Congress.

He rendered great service this time and is expected to be entrusted with important responsibilities soon.

However, the immediate priority is the Chief Minister's inauguration, and there is significant disagreement within the Indian People's Party on this matter.

According to the convention for the winning party in an election, the party leader automatically assumes the position of Chief Minister.

However, Advani politely declined the nomination for Chief Minister due to his advanced age, and ultimately, the Indian People's Party internally appointed Patel as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

He is one of Advani's trusted confidants and also a party member strongly supported by Modi.

However, the appointed candidate was not universally accepted, and Vaghela, also a high-ranking member of the Indian People's Party, had strong objections.

He also has a group of supporters within the party, and their momentum is not small; those people believe that Vaghela is the one who deserves to sit on the Chief Minister's throne.

Especially since Vaghela and Modi are at odds, and Mo Da Xian happens to support his competitor, Patel.

In short, while the Indian People's Party appears to have achieved a resounding victory, the internal struggle continues to surge beneath the surface.

Ron was temporarily unaware of their entangled interests; he only knew that he had successfully established a foothold in Gujarat.

The day after the victory, he attended Patel's inauguration ceremony and also participated in the celebration.

“Mr. Sur, thank you very much for your generous assistance,” the pot-bellied Patel walked over and thanked him.

“This is a victory for democracy,” Ron smiled.

“That's right, a victory for democracy,” everyone laughed.

“By the way, how is your factory doing?” Patel asked.

“It's about to start production; we were just waiting for your election news.”

The Sur Industrial Park in Gujarat has not yet started construction; for now, idle warehouses in Jamnagar have been converted into factory buildings.

“Don't worry, I'll approve that land immediately and also give you additional tax incentives.”

“Cheers to our cooperation!” Ron clinked glasses with him.

Well, they were drinking milk tea and eating pastries.

Gujarat generally prohibits alcohol; private possession of less than one liter of alcohol is allowed, but more is illegal.

The Indian People's Party steadfastly enforces this regulation, so at the celebration, everyone could only drink tea and eat pastries.

However, this did not prevent Ron from getting to know the Indian People's Party's political figures: the party leader, the Chief Minister, Mo Da Xian, and Dhirubhai Shah.

He is the Indian People's Party's wordsmith, skilled at writing speeches, including lyrics and music. He also has business in Mumbai, mainly in media, and is one of the Indian People's Party's financiers.

Ron chatted happily with these big shots; he had also put in a lot of effort this time.

The five hundred acres of land in Jamnagar, large enough to build a city within a city, were now given to him for free by the Indian People's Party.

See, a benefactor who provides help in times of need has a different status.

“Mr. Sur, when do you plan to hold the signing ceremony for the Sur Industrial Park?” The radiant Advani still remembered this important matter.

“The sooner the better; we must deliver on our promises to the voters.”

“Excellent!” A group of Indian People's Party key members nodded with satisfaction.

With the momentum of a great victory, immediately implementing economic development within the state will further enhance the Indian People's Party's prestige.

In the next election, the Sur Industrial Park will become their political achievement, and the party's foundation will become even stronger.

Ron himself, of course, also wanted to get the park sorted out as soon as possible; Sur Electric's products were in high demand, and he wished he could start work tomorrow.

As for taking the land and secretly hoarding it, he would absolutely not do that, nor would he condescend to do so.

He is not a cucumber; he doesn't care about the small gains from land appreciation.

Once real industry scales up, profits snowball, making far more money than real estate.

Moreover, land in India is not valuable; except for Mumbai and New Delhi, other places have no investment value at all.

According to the agreement with the Indian People's Party, the Sur Industrial Park in Gujarat is a super project lasting five years.

In the first two years, the television cluster will be prioritized for construction, with a portion of the products supplied domestically and another portion exported to Persian Gulf countries.

These are high-value products, and both Ron himself and the Indian People's Party attach great importance to them.

Other small home appliances will follow, and when the time is right, washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners are also not out of the question.

In short, when the entire five-hundred-acre industrial park is completed, let alone 30,000 jobs, there will be more than 50,000.

Ron looks forward to the day Sur Electric becomes a behemoth; Modi might even have to perform a foot-touching ceremony for him then.

Haha, just a fantasy, not to be taken seriously.

“Mo Da Xian,” Ron slung an arm around Modi's shoulder, extremely intimately.

“What?” He didn't hear clearly.

“Ahem, Narendra, you're about to achieve great things this time,” Ron even stopped using his surname.

“This is a victory for the party,” Modi clasped his hands together, appearing very humble.

“I heard from Mr. Advani that they plan to transfer you to New Delhi to serve as the Indian People's Party's National Secretary-General?”

“It's not confirmed yet, so don't take it seriously,” Modi said, though a smile already played on his lips.

The Indian People's Party's National Secretary-General is an important position. For Modi, the biggest benefit is that he can interact with Indian People's Party political figures from all states across the country.

What does this mean? It means he will rapidly gain prestige within the party, which will be the foundation for him to reach higher positions in the future.

“Mr. Sur, Mr. Modi, you're both here, congratulations!”

As Ron and Mo Da Xian were arm-in-arm, a round face approached.

A garlic nose, a walrus mustache—isn't this the future richest man?

The Indian People's Party's unprecedented resounding victory naturally first attracted opportunistic businessmen.

At the celebration, there were plenty of uninvited business people.

However, most could only wander around with a smiling face, and very few, like Ron, became honored guests.

Adani is a speculator, and of course, he wouldn't miss any networking opportunities.

He had a bit more confidence than others because he had hedged his bets during the election, giving money to both the Indian People's Party and the Indian National Congress.

“Ah, Mr. Adani,” Ron smiled and clinked glasses with him.

“The Mundra port is under construction and urgently needs Mr. Sur's cement support,” the big-nosed man's tone was eager.

“No problem, the construction team has been on standby for a long time and will start work tomorrow; cement will be supplied very soon.”

“That's truly excellent; Mr. Sur's efficiency is renowned throughout India,” Adani was very enthusiastic.

He always had a smile on his face, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Modi.

Clearly, he also knew that Mo Da Xian was about to be greatly entrusted, so he came early to build connections.

Party leaders like Advani certainly don't lack sycophants. It's Modi, who isn't yet a core senior official but has great potential, who is more worth investing in.

Mo Da Xian also responded politely to his goodwill.

After all, Adani is a famous businessman in Gujarat, and the first private dock belongs to him; face must be given.

However, with Ron, the one who provided help in times of need, already having made an impression, it's hard for others to catch Mo Da Xian's eye anymore.

He can distinguish between providing help in times of need and merely adding embellishments.

They are all wealthy businessmen who are not short of money, so why wouldn't he choose the one who is both kind and righteous?

“Mr. Sur, if you have time, why not visit Mundra again? We have much in common,” Adani invited.

“No problem, I will go,” Ron nodded politely.

After the pleasantries, Adani smiled and went to socialize with others.

“Are you returning to Mumbai?” Modi asked.

“After signing the agreement.”

“Because of the antitrust issue?”

“Yes, some people think Su'er Television is sold too cheaply,” Ron shrugged.

Honestly, this was also unexpected for him.

In this strange place, India, there's even talk of antitrust.

“Those are vampires; they can't stand to see poor people live good lives.” At this time, Mo Da Xian still had a bit of a righteous indignation.

“It's all minor matters, not worth mentioning,” Ron chuckled.