Hindustan Times
BJP’s battle for survival
Of the three states that vote on October 13th, Maharashtra is the most keenly watched. In Haryana, there isn’t much of a contest and Arunchal Pradesh will not affect the national political scene much.
But the Maharashtra results will have far-reaching implications, particularly for the BJP. Maharashtra is the saffron party’s opportunity to redeem its honour after its defeat in the May general elections. Since then, nothing has gone right for the party. Its leaders are fighting among themselves and have not been able to reach an agreement on who would succeed LK Advani, who is now 82. The party has not been able to decide what caused its defeat. The BJP desperately needs a victory, and Maharashtra offers it an opportunity to redeem itself. Another defeat will give the impression that the party’s downfall is irreversible.
Maharashtra also represents BJP’s perpetual dilemma — of defining its own identity.
In this case, the BJP, which claims to be a true “nationalist” party is seeking votes on the regional chauvinist agenda set by its partner Shiv Sena. The alliance’s poll promises include special preference to Marathas for jobs in Maharashtra. The BJP has never been tired of its founding slogan – Ek Desh mein do Vidhaan, Ek Desh mein do Nishaan, Ek Desh mein do Pradhaan, nahin chalengey nahin chalengey . The slogan was against Jammu & Kashmir having a separate statute, flag and a prime minister. One country cannot have two systems. Obviously, the BJP does not think that’s true for Maharashtra.
BJP’s alliance with Shiv Sena – its first and the only one for a long time – is in many ways contradictory, but both share the idea of a strong and militaristic society. The BJP talks of a strong Hindu society, while the Shiv Sena talks of a strong Marathi society in Maharashtra soil, where bhaiyas from UP and Bihar are banned.
Therefore, victory will also, ironically, add new problems to BJP’s resurrection plans. For instance, what will happen to its alliance with JD (U) in Bihar? Can the party stand for Marathi Manoos in Maharashtra and Hindutva in Bihar?
But that’s for the future. In victory or in defeat, the BJP will have to come to terms with contradictions of its own making.
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Varghese K George on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Filed under Policy and Politics · Tagged Arunchal Pradesh, assembly polls, BJP, elections, Haryana, Hindu society, Jammu & Kashmir, JD (U), LK Advani, Maharashtra, marathi, national political scene, Shiv Sena
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