Time for BJP to stop quoting Indian History and learn something from it.

If one watches any BJP leader, from Panchayat level to Union level, they all quote Indian History. Well, it is time they stop doing so. What’s the point of quoting from Indian History, if you don’t have the interest to learn anything from it and practice it? It is time BJP learn something from History and implement it – manasa, vacha & karmana i.e., in thoughts, speeches and actions.

In 2017, I wrote “Mamata Banerjee is set to rule West Bengal for a very long time” and explained with plausible reasons[1]. As BJP was expected to work in the next five years, I thought Mamata’s victory margin may be less. This is where BJP proved me wrong. They helped Mamata to consolidate her vote base by biting into the Congress-Communist base. Though BJP tried every trick in the book, the final outcome appears they were studying from the wrong book. Else, how can one explain, after making huge inroads in 2019, they failed so greatly?

BJP relied heavily on social media websites, which were minting money by encashing the super positive image of Narendra Modi

Like there are multiple reasons for the death of Karna, there are multiple reasons for the BJP’s defeat. After her victory in 2011, when she uprooted the bloody Marxist regime, this win will be savoured by Mamata very much. The win in 2016 was not a serious contest. And, the 2021 elections will be known more for BJP’s defeat than Mamata’s grand win.

What went wrong?

Any control engineer will tell you how important it is to get correct feedback so the process can be controlled optimally. Well, slowly and steadily, BJP distanced itself from the exact feedback. The Bhaktgan that not only criticizes but ridicules anyone who questioned BJP on any matter has simply relegated sincere supporters and well-wishers of BJP. After experiencing how Prashant Kishor, who worked for BJP before it conquered power in 2014, left the party and started serving any individual, who paid him should have made BJP’s think tank correct their course of future actions. Instead, BJP relied heavily on social media websites, which were minting money by encashing the super positive image of Narendra Modi. These portals simply carried out only positive news and became sort of private mouthpieces that did the job of official media in China or Russia. Not that everything they did was wrong. They only did not do some correct things.

Only if the so-called think tank of BJP has someone who can really think, this would not have happened. In fact, when Sanjay Raut advised BJP they should have someone on their side who can tell them what was wrong, Vinay Sahastrabudhe has retorted saying they lived with Shiv Sena for fifteen years, and all Sena did during that time was criticizing BJP. The scholarly gentleman was correct in giving facts. But, the decision-makers in BJP.

This explains one thing. That BJP never understood who was a friend and who was not.

In 2014, when Narendra Modi got a mandate, he did not seek votes on the Hindutva plank. He spoke of Vikas, development. In fact, he did not create a new India. New India, which has overwhelming aspirations, was craving for development, and that New India has chosen him. Reasons for the second win in 2019, were very much known to the top echelon of BJP. The bigger mandate was the result of ensuring the last-mile delivery of government’s services to the poor. Despite being the head of a capitalist party, Modi’s rule was truly a socialist one. When Mamata was also doing the same thing, how could BJP think they have an edge over TMC? Should there be not a better plan?

Any sane politician would have decided against allying with Shiv Sena in 2019. Well, there were reports that Amit Shah was against the alliance but was overruled.

In the first place, Mamata was not the sort of person who was against BJP. For the records, what BJP was saying in the last few years, Mamata spoke a decade ago – that of the influx of Bangladeshis. Now, taking a leaf out of the PM’s notes, a correct Gujarati would like to have her as a partner and not as an opponent. Yes? Then, why and how BJP allowed her to become an opponent and fought so fiercely that any unification is now impossible?

The answer lies in the way BJP tried to expand itself across India. And, this is what BJP has not learned from Indian History. Unlike in the imagination of its Bhaktgan, Akhand Bharat was in fact was a union of many kingdoms, even before Lord Rama’s father ruled Kosala. When these kingdoms fight with one another, anyone from Arabs to the Brits and even the French snatched a pie. What was the point of fighting with like-minded persons?

Chanakya, after the coronation of Chandragupta, ensured Rakshasa Amatya, the chief minister of Nandas, accept the same role under the new emperor. He offers Rakshasa an offer that he cannot refuse. Yes, the alternative to accepting the position will be death by Shoolarohan. And, BJP’s think tank doesn’t know how to avail the services of those who are their allies in the first place.

Remember Chandrababu Naidu, the first chief minister whose name was known across India? His party was an ally to BJP. When Modi announced demonetization, he made Naidu the head of the committee to oversee cash disbursement to all states. And, how Naidu was forced to part ways, was a classic example of how decisions are taken in BJP. And, how the Bhaktgan has humiliated Chandrababu, one of the famous chief minister in independent India, was really something. The same Bhaktgan forgot Jaganmohan Reddy was in jail for close to two years, whom they accused as the representative of corruption by UPA. It is not about Naidu or Reddy personally, but how BJP changes its priorities, which is worth noticing.

Any sane politician would have decided against allying with Shiv Sena in 2019. Well, there were reports that Amit Shah was against the alliance but was overruled. And, the decision was taken considering the stature of the founder of Shiv Sena, who was no more. BJP paid the price very heavily for this decision. Add to that, the early morning swearing-in fiasco is another example of “what not to do”. The maverick has used that one day to get all the cases against Ajit Pawar dropped and he was back as Dy CM with new friend Shiv Sena.

After TDP and SS, it was Akalis who were forced to part ways because of farmers’ protests. Though the decision to part with BJP was taken by Akalis and was a politically motivated one, was it not the responsibility of BJP’s leadership to stop them?

Now, who is with BJP? Oh, there is Nitish Kumar. The old Sushasan Babu, who can’t win the state on his own and can’t work with that ninth class drop out. And, did BJP ever analysed why the second innings with Nitish failed to provide superb administration, which they could in the first innings? No. They are happy that they are in power in Bihar. Don’t ask more questions.

In Tamilnadu, was it not the responsibility of the BJP to get the reports on Jayalalithaa’s death investigated properly? After all, she was said to be a sister like a figure to the Prime Minister. Still, someone from the party advised getting Sasikala into the alliance. Had they allied with Sasikala, Stalin would have got a landslide victory. For the people of Tamilnadu, who support AIADMK, it was OPS, who was anointed as the chief minister by Amma and not EPS. EPS was the candidate of Chinnamma, who was not considered as a leader. And, to think someone tried to ally with her, immediately after her release from jail is really funny.

Selecting the Metroman as their candidate in Kerala, was there another good thing BJP did in these elections – barring Assam? I would like to know.

It is time BJP do serious introspection, unlike the Congress who abhorred the word. It is time for BJP to recognise who are their friends and who are not. It is good to have friends in all places rather than having their own government in all states. And, what’s the point of forming a government just for the sake of it? Did ever BJP analysed why Madha Pradesh could not become like Karnataka, despite being ruled by the part for three consecutive terms?

Finally, about the Margdarshak Mandal. Did the top echelon ever discuss with the erstwhile leaders, who built the party? Some of the old guards, like Yashwant Sinha, has become renegades. Why BJP fails to keep the elders within the flock? Even Subramanian Swamy, who is now in BJP, acts as an opposition leader from within. Why can’t the BJP leadership talk to people who are its supporters? People still remember Advani and Joshi. If you ignore them now, you will be ignored tomorrow.

Maybe BJP’s think tank should watch some films to get real gyan encapsulated by the reel world. Like Spiderman said, “With great power, comes greater responsibility”. The onus of talking to all like-minded people and parties is on BJP, and not on others.

Continuing the filmi gyan, as Oogway said, “There are no accidents”. If BJP won Assam, it was because they have someone like Himanta Biswa Sarma, to lead the party there. What does BJP have in other states? Though BJP deputed Kailash Vijayavargiya to West Bengal, four years ago, they don’t have a proper head in the state. What can Vijayavargiya do, in such a situation? It takes time to evolve. Gaining power through revolution is really bad, as the communist world demonstrated. Except for selecting the Metroman as their candidate in Kerala, was there another good thing BJP did in these elections – barring Assam? I would like to know.

Every election is a new one. Rules change, with time and with the place. If BJP really wants to lead India into a new era, they need to be like the new Indian, a dynamic one. Hope someone listens.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

References:

[1] Mamata Banerjee is set to rule West Bengal for a very long time – Feb 28, 2017, TFI Post

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