How dangerous is BJP’s return to Hindutva for the INDIA group? The real test in the battle of Delhi. Opinion – bjp hindutva agenda has hit india bloc in maharashtra haryana next test in delhi election opnm1
BJP’s Hindutva agenda seemed to have failed in the Lok Sabha elections. The biggest blow to BJP was on Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which the opposition started publicizing as the defeat of Ayodhya.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and former Chief Minister of UP Akhilesh Yadav started roaring in the Parliament with the Constitution in their hands and Awadhesh Prasad along with them. Rahul Gandhi had even claimed that he would defeat the BJP even after reaching Gujarat – at times it seemed that the BJP-led NDA government would fall midway, and the India Bloc would take over power at the Centre.
The results of Haryana Assembly elections raised questions on Rahul Gandhi’s claims. The results of Maharashtra elections have created such an atmosphere as if a game has been played. These words were used a lot by Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 West Bengal elections, and after the victory of Trinamool Congress, leaders like Akhilesh Yadav also started speaking.
During the assembly elections of 5 states held before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the issue of caste census was raised a lot by Rahul Gandhi, which was neutralized by BJP with the agenda of Hindutva. In the Lok Sabha elections, caste politics cost BJP dearly and it suffered a huge setback in a state like Uttar Pradesh.
First of all, after the Lok Sabha elections, assembly elections have been held in four states, and from a technical point of view the contest is a draw. India Bloc has won in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand, BJP has won in Haryana and Maharashtra – yes, it is a different matter which victory is politically important.
And now the real test of BJP’s Hindutva agenda will be in the Delhi Assembly elections, where despite adopting all the tricks of electoral politics, BJP is not able to stand properly against Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party.
Hindutva agenda dominates even after Ayodhya defeat
Among the 20 states ruled by the NDA across the country, Maharashtra is the only one where the Chief Minister also belongs to the BJP. After the election results came, there was a demand from Shiv Sena to make Eknath Shinde the Chief Minister of Bihar, but ultimately the oath was administered to Devendra Fadnavis. As far as Bihar is concerned, Nitish Kumar has been named the leader of NDA for 2025 also. This is the update till now, who knows what will happen next.
The elections of Maharashtra and Haryana had become a big challenge for BJP. BJP’s performance in Haryana was not that bad, but in Maharashtra BJP was badly defeated. The stain of Ayodhya defeat was already there – BJP will be able to avenge Ayodhya only when by-elections are held in Milkipur, but by winning Haryana and Maharashtra, BJP has proved that it does not need to step back from the Hindutva agenda.
The fire that Devendra Fadnavis had awakened by singing ‘Jago Hindu Jago’, was sharpened by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s new slogan ‘Bantenge to Katenge’, and it has been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek hai to safe hai’. ‘Nara.
The real test of Hindutva agenda will be in Delhi
Delhi Assembly elections are being held at a time when there is a fierce conflict within the India Bloc. Along with Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav is also upset with Rahul Gandhi – and questions are being raised on the leadership ability of the Congress.
Even though Rahul Gandhi can be blamed for Haryana, in Maharashtra Congress was just a partner in Mahavikas Aghadi. Still, Trinamool Congress leaders are targeting the Congress leadership itself, and Uddhav Thackeray is also trying to convince the Congress that Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee should be convinced to remain in the India Bloc.
At present, Arvind Kejriwal’s position in the India Block seems to be similar to that of Mamata Banerjee. Just as Mamata Banerjee was fighting the Lok Sabha elections alone in West Bengal, Arvind Kejriwal is also fighting alone in Delhi – and along with BJP, Congress has also stood in the contest.
However, like Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal has also been firmly in power in Delhi for more than ten years. If we look at the numbers, Arvind Kejriwal’s strike rate is much higher than Mamata Banerjee.
BJP has vigorously run the agenda of Hindutva and nationalism in the 2020 elections, but has been able to reach only 3 to 8 assembly seats in the last two elections – What verdict will the people of Delhi give in the new temperament politics, what will be the fate of Hindutva in the future. It is going to be very important for politics.
