Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J P Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during celebration of Maharashtra election results at BJP Headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday. (Express Photo by
Nov 26, 2024 04:20 IST First published on: Nov 26, 2024 at 04:20 IST
Addressing BJP cadres at the party headquarters after the spectacular success in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that the election result was an endorsement of his “vikasvad” or development politics. He also spoke of the government’s emphasis on both vikas (development) and virasat (heritage). The BJP’s success does indeed underscore its legacy of development politics and also strengthens the PM’s aim to build on our glorious heritage, comprising our languages, traditions and culture. The Maharashtra victory, in multiple ways, is an affirmation of vikas and virasat.
The BJP takes every election seriously. Even so, the Maharashtra win is significant because the state has been a prominent theatre in the ideological battle. Post the Lok Sabha poll results, resolutely fighting against the odds, the BJP overcame the odds and established that “united we win”. The Mahayuti’s resounding success has not just silenced but frustrated most pseudo-progressives who were eager to write the BJP’s epitaph post-June 4. Those struck by shock would do well to understand the magic of the BJP’s mehnat instead of doubting the authenticity of the voting machines. Behind the BJP’s success was a carefully crafted strategy to reboot the process of narrative-shaping and restore confidence, initially of the cadres and then of the voters.
Post June 4, BJP cadres in Maharashtra felt disillusioned. After careful analysis of the general election verdict, party cadres and well-wishers were made to realise that rampant casteism and promotion of micro-identities by the Congress was the most serious challenge. To that end, confidence-building measures covering diverse communities were taken at all levels across the state. Samvidhan Gaurav Yatras were organised to send a powerful message to all marginalised communities who were swayed by the manufactured paranoia orchestrated by the Congress and Left. Finally, the PM’s “ek hain toh safe hain” slogan worked. It proved to be a call pregnant with relevant messages to be suitably deciphered by different groups — party cadres, organisations in the ideological movement, social groups and even alliance partners. Opponents objected to this slogan but they couldn’t find fault with it or coin a phrase that eclipsed the PM’s message.
Besides this organisational rebooting, the way the party leadership lived up to “coalition dharma” added to the BJP’s strength. Notwithstanding irresponsible allegations against the BJP of playing big brother to other partners, even a smaller party like RPI-Athawale was treated with dignity. Through its own manifesto, the BJP refused to cede ideological positions but at the same time showed remarkable flexibility in accommodating key points announced by Mahayuti leaders beforehand.
In its bid to engage with all sections of society, BJP leaders went the extra mile to take care of the woes of farmers cultivating cash crops like onions, cotton and soybeans. For onion growers, export duty was almost completely waived and for soybean farmers higher MSP was allowed despite a good monsoon. Similarly, for diverse social groups among the OBCs, numerous new initiatives were announced reassuring everyone of security, dignity and opportunity. The BJP leadership’s adroit and responsible handling of social and caste issues in an otherwise fractured social fabric added to its strength.
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While farmers and smaller OBC communities were reassured, for all other groups, the Ladki Bahin scheme became a great leveller and had a unifying effect. Those who look at the scheme as a cash handout forget that it gave liberty to beneficiary women to use the amount how they wish to, without interference from male family members.
While deciphering the BJP’s historic success, one must not ignore the bankruptcy of opposition parties. Amit Shah has rightly credited the BJP’s success to the party’s political performance. A clear, long-term vision of development focusing on time-bound implementation and the refusal to buckle under populist pressures while taking measures to protect those who need it are the BJP’s strong points. Against this, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP-Sharad Pawar have precious little to show. While one can advance several reasons for the MVA/INDI alliance’s defeat, the fact that all three parties are dynasty-controlled can’t be overlooked. Such parties can’t avoid crises of purpose, authenticity, ownership and building relationships. Before these parties face a crisis of existence, the cause of democracy will be well served if they mend their ways, learn from the BJP and also try to reboot and re-emerge.
The writer is former national vice-president of the BJP
