BJP’s Haryana victory is a referendum on Modi’s popularity, rejection of Congress’s caste politics

The Haryana predetermination effect is undoubtedly not a verdict for Manohar Lal Khattar oregon Bhupinder Singh Hooda. They whitethorn person been the superior actors, but the predetermination was astir acold more. Had the BJP been defeated, it would not lone person emboldened the Opposition parties but besides encouraged them to initiate a caller run against the BJP successful general, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi successful particular.

Although Haryana is simply a tiny state, it is simply a litmus test. The Opposition’s delusions of a triumph foretold proved to beryllium a boon for the BJP. There is nary uncertainty that the Haryana predetermination was a referendum connected Modi’s popularity and the interaction of the BJP’s socio-economic programmes.

Four factors led to the BJP’s victory. One, the nationalisation of the predetermination diverted voters’ attraction from section leaders and factors. The monolithic payment programmes created a strong, soundless ballot slope for the BJP, particularly among the marginalised classes. They stay unmoved by the caste and spiritual appeals of section leaders. Women and younker are besides among the beneficiaries of Modinomics.

Second, the societal doctrine of the Congress has not evolved. The enactment has been incapable to gauge either the nationalist sentiment oregon the interaction of Hindutva connected the Indian mind. Rahul Gandhi has been trying, with dedication, to resurrect an aged mentation of secularism. The Congress is mired successful a deficiency of clarity arsenic acold arsenic culture, religion and the legacies of the federation are concerned. There is present nary 1 successful the enactment — similar Sampurnanad oregon K M Munshi — to prosecute and statement with Rahul Gandhi connected captious societal and taste issues. He is some an ideologue and a leader. This was not the lawsuit with Jawaharlal Nehru oregon Indira Gandhi.

Third, the centre of the Congress run was the location of its leader, Hooda. The BJP, connected the different hand, works — virtually and symbolically — done the party. The connection is clear. In a democracy, radical can’t beryllium hostages to a dynasty. Literacy is growing, and truthful is antiauthoritarian consciousness.

Fourth, arsenic a effect of its politics, Congress has go the enactment of a peculiar caste successful Haryana. The BJP’s outreach and ideology is much holistic. Moreover, Congress failed to reorganise oregon reorient its workers astatine the grassroots. Its occurrence depends connected fragmentation successful society. Therefore, it allies with leaders and forces who galvanise caste, communal and determination politics. This is the Congress’s folly. The BJP utilized constructive societal programmes to heighten its societal enactment base.

The verdict successful Jammu and Kashmir is unfavourable to the BJP — but the effect is besides astir a little evident narrative. This was the archetypal predetermination aft the abrogation of Article 370. The abrogation heralded a caller epoch successful the state. In the past six years, the authorities has experienced much-desired development. More than 2 crore tourists visited J&K successful 2023. More than 70 lakh beneficiaries received Rs 6,000 crore done Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The enrolment of 1,80,000 children successful pre-primary schools shows that the days of stone-pelting person ended. The empowerment of panchayats and section enactment is disposable successful the state.

Nevertheless, the Muslim-majority authorities has rejected the BJP. The onus is not connected the saffron party. Its policies and programmes stay non-discriminatory. The larger question is astir the interaction of religion connected voting. Diversity is not lone indispensable to taste and societal beingness — it is successful authorities too. Segmentation on caste oregon assemblage lines tin marque ideology stagnant.

Political modernity requires reasoning successful presumption of improvement and non-sectarian policies. The BJP’s outreach to Muslims is simply a portion of the antiauthoritarian process but much important is Muslims’ outreach to the Hindus successful wide and RSS successful particular. For the past 100 years, the process has been one-sided.

The accomplishment of much and much radical from extracurricular the authorities — successful divers roles and professions, including business, authorities workers, etc — was misused arsenic a governmental contented by the National Conference. The value of safeguarding against specified narratives is simply a acquisition for the BJP.

Haryana and J&K person demonstrated that the radical are present astatine the centrestage — an elitist authorities has nary purchase. Every predetermination adds a caller magnitude to Indian democracy. The biggest situation beyond the verdict is to liberate parties from a narrow, divisive approach, which undermines the values of wide democracy. The BJP’s spot is its organisation and workers. The aforesaid is not existent for the Opposition. Both successful Haryana and J&K, Congress depended connected dynasts and caste and communal polarisation. Will it larn oregon proceed connected a failed path?

The writer is simply a erstwhile BJP Rajya Sabha MP