BJP’s relations with the RSS will alter

BJP’s relations with the RSS will alter

Shravan GargUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 09:01 PM IST
article-image

The verdict of Delhi Assembly polls was discarded by the Bharatiya Janata Party claiming that it was not a referendum on the performance of the Modi Government and that exceptions can surely be there. But that bravado notwithstanding, the Bihar rout now follows the Delhi rout. While the Delhi verdict had come within just seven months from Narendra Modi’s unexpected majority; Bihar again follows within just eight months after Delhi.

In fact, the Bihar verdict was like the proverbial ‘writing on the wall’ and for all to see, when the Prime Minister accompanied by the Party President Amit Shah, stepped into the New Delhi residence of the marginalised octogenarian and one of the founders of the party, Lal Krishna Advani, to wish him a happy birthday on Sunday morning. The patriarch, for a change, appeared cheerful while receiving his visitors. It has to be a mere a coincidence that the Bihar verdict-day and Advani’s birthday arrived hand in hand. The adverse result was probably anticipated even a day earlier as witnessed by the government not losing any time in issuing the notification on One Rank One Pension for Defence Personnel. Exactly on the eve of poll counting!

The jolt must be electrifying for the sheer trouncing of the efforts made by the Prime Minister in Bihar. The NDA got a severe drubbing, procuring fewer seats than its bête noire — the RJD, under its ‘much-hated’ leader Lalu Yadav. The RJD secured 80 seats against the 40 seats in the last Assembly elections.

The million dollar question now is: What will change in the BJP — in its attitude, thinking, accountability? Will this humiliating Bihar defeat, on the lines of the Delhi debacle, lead to any serious changes in the BJP leadership? Will the coming together of one-time arch political rivals — Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav — help the Opposition parties of the country get united more aggressively and forcefully? The Samajwadi Party Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav must be regretting his betrayal to the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar and may belatedly attempt to extend an olive branch to Nitish Kumar. Shiv Sena has already taken the lead in describing Nitish Kumar as a ‘Maha Nayak.’ It was largely owing to joining of hands by the JDU, RJD and the Congress — that the division of votes in Bihar was averted, particularly in areas encompassing 57 seats which went to the polls in the last phase.

The defeat in Bihar is a perfect opportunity for the BJP, if it so chooses, to appear —at least publicly — more humble and accommodating. Perhaps it will now be less arrogant and ready to listen to another’s view point. The Prime Minister can also, possibly, re-think his choice of ‘close advisers’.

The single largest change that this Bihar verdict may bring about could be in the relationship between the BJP and the RSS. Particularly with regard to pursuing the alleged agenda of ‘Hindu communalism, religious intolerance and policy against reservation.’ Though the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his Vijayadashmi address, tried his best to damage-control the situation created by his repeated anti-reservation views, on poll eve, but it was obviously too little, too late. Considerable damage had already been done as the Mahagathbandhan had already grabbed the opportunity.

There is no doubt that Bihar polls were fought on the scale of a national election. The BJP throwing its full might, all of its resources and the Prime Minister with his entire Cabinet and with trusted leaders of the party acting as the generals. Therefore, the Bihar verdict is bound to bring about a paradigm shift in the national politics. The Bihar experience will also force the BJP to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of its allies and alliances more seriously and differently.

The exercise of pin-pointing the reasons for the defeat may already be in progress, behind closed doors of the BJP and the RSS. The exercise must also have begun to identify real and ‘sacrificial goats’ which could be tagged as the real culprits for the defeat. The demoralisation which has been inflicted upon the “Rightist” party on the eve of Diwali will take some time to recover from. The party is faced with challenges in West Bengal and Kerala next year and the most prestigious contest will be in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. The BJP had bagged 73 of 80 seats in Lok Sabha polls held last year. The Bihar bungling may suggest to the BJP President the urgent need for allowing greater internal democracy and accommodating dissenting voices within the organisation.

The single largest change that this Bihar verdict may bring about could be in the relationship between the BJP and the RSS. Particularly with regard to pursuing the alleged agenda of ‘Hindu communalism, religious intolerance and policy against reservation’. Though the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his Vijayadashmi address, tried his best to damage-control the situation created by his repeated anti-reservation views, on poll eve, but it was obviously too little, too late. Considerable damage had already been done as the Mahagathbandhan had already grabbed the opportunity.

An honest analysis of the results may lead to a conclusion that all these factors may have contributed to the NDA’s debacle. This may, therefore, provide an admissible excuse to the Party to distance itself more aggressively and decisively from the ‘fringe elements’ who have been caring two hoots for polite warnings issued against their ‘hate campaign’ against the minority communities. The analysis can also give a heads-up to the party against the disastrous strategy of ‘communal polarisation’.

It can, therefore, be safely assumed that the Prime Minister may decide to make use of this verdict to act more resolutely and positively on such issues which are being currently debated across the country and being used as a campaign against his government. This could be used as an opportunity to help Modi emerge in a different light, with a positive strategy in taking forward his agenda of development.

The Bihar poll results have certainly given a new lease of life to the Opposition parties which were thrown into disarray, depression and near oblivion after the Lok Sabha elections. Nitish Kumar has emerged as a leader capable of leading the Opposition at the Centre. Bihar will perhaps now prove to be too small a place to make full use of his capabilities. But much would also depend on how long the two rivals of the past, Nitish and Lalu, harbouring unlimited political ambitions, would walk-the-talk and work together.

A strong Opposition at the Centre and a more liberal and accommodating Prime Minister can surely lead the country to newer heights. Nobody can vouch if some well-meaning sections of the BJP were not silently wanting the Prime Minister to shed some of his weight in order to bolster and strengthen the Party.

RECENT STORIES

Editorial: Need To Look After The Aged

Editorial: Need To Look After The Aged

Analysis: Anonymous Electoral Bonds Reined In — But What About Anonymous Cash Donations?

Analysis: Anonymous Electoral Bonds Reined In — But What About Anonymous Cash Donations?

Editorial: Government Cannot Be Run From Jail

Editorial: Government Cannot Be Run From Jail

Decentralisation Can Build Better Cities

Decentralisation Can Build Better Cities

Analysis: Elections Are The True Test Of Democracy

Analysis: Elections Are The True Test Of Democracy