After defeating the RSS, the party is enthusiastic about the upcoming polls. The Sangh has a strong presence in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, and the disagreements between the party and the organisation that influenced the Lok Sabha election outcome have been resolved.
Polarisation is evident in the upcoming elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra. The RSS fully supports Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s ‘Batenge toh katenge’ (unite or be slain) slogan promoting Hindu unity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi enhanced the phrase with his own ‘Ek hain toh safe hain’ (Be unified to be secure) message. The BJP’s partners in Maharashtra, including the Shinde Sena and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, are opposed to the slogans due to concerns about a potential response from the community. However, the BJP believes it is a successful electoral strategy.
Adityanath gave an address at an Agra gathering in response to the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh, emphasising the importance of unity among Hindus of all castes. He later used the slogan during a rally in Maharashtra. PM Modi accused the Congress of separating the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, and Dalits. He asked them to work together to overcome the Grand Old Party’s purported malicious plans. The BJP is using divisiveness as a campaign strategy in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra.
Adityanath, Amit Shah, and Himanta Biswa Sarma have raised concerns about illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators disrupting Jharkhand’s demographic balance and harming tribals. They aim to gain support from a major votebank in the state. They have consistently criticised Hemen Soren for allegedly enabling unfettered infiltration from Bangladesh. Following the Haryana poll results, the BJP is pursuing its tried-and-true policy of communal division. After a significant number of Dalits voted against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the party has undertaken a campaign to reach out to them. The Congress successfully portrayed the BJP’s ‘400 paar’ campaign as an attempt to eliminate quotas for marginalised groups by amending the Constitution. The BJP claims that the Congress has been anti-reservation from Jawaharlal Nehru’s time. With the RSS now behind it, the party is hopeful about the results of the upcoming elections. The Sangh has a strong foundation in both Maharashtra.
The conflicts between the party and organisation in Jharkhand that impacted the Lok Sabha election have been resolved. The BJP’s partners in Maharashtra are sceptical of this tactic due to the importance of the Muslim vote in over 30 seats. They are unwilling to take any chances. Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde have warned against communalising the election campaign, stating that it will not be effective in Maharashtra.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi criticises the BJP’s use of sectarian language to divert attention away from important issues like development, unemployment, and inflation. In Jharkhand, the JMM’s promise to create a Sarna code for a separate tribal category in the upcoming census clashes with the BJP’s prediction of a decrease in tribal population due to Bangladeshi infiltration.
The upcoming elections in Jharkhand (two phases on 13 and 20 November) and Maharashtra (single phase on 20 November) are crucial for the ruling BJP and the Opposition INDIA bloc. They will determine if the Lok Sabha polls marked a significant shift in the country’s politics. The Assembly polls and byelections will provide clear direction for both the ruling alliance and the opposition. The Congress’ performance in the two states may impact its standing in the INDIA coalition, which was harmed by its surprise setback in Haryana. Following the Haryana judgement, the BJP relied heavily on Narendra Modi as its main campaigner.
The Lok Sabha election ended in the BJP relying on Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar’s JD-U for survival. As a result, the party retracted its ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ and PM-centered rhetoric.
Modi’s frequent rallies in Maharashtra and Jharkhand have re-established him as a prominent figure. It is apparent that the BJP is optimistic of a positive outcome. It is hoping the slew of welfare schemes and freebies promised will do the trick if the communal rhetoric does not pay dividends. However, the Indian voter cannot be taken for granted, and everything is up in the air till Verdict Day on November 23.
Dr. Abhishek Verma
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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