by Chakresh Mishra
Jun 22, 2009Plight of BJP and differences in party with a difference
It looks like just yesterday when I changed my status message in GTalk, copying from someone else of-course “Congress in LokSabha and BJP in ShokSabha”, friends laughed and I was amused. Now it has been more than a month and BJP is still in ShokSabha. They have once again ducked the process of self-scrutiny and they are busy doing patchwork. In-fighting is in open, letters are being passed, leaders accusing each other, president trying to be a hero, oldest leader yet not leaving the posts and what to say more once a cadre based highly disciplined party is being pulled in thousand directions. Let us understand the plight of BJP, there are three major types of leaders right now in BJP.
Old-Timers: One of my friend said “The whistle blower as they are already out of race”, the lost generation of BJP. These are the leaders now in there 70s and obviously not going to be a contenders for top post in next election as congress’s reliance on Rahul Gandhi is going to push BJP towards a younger leader. Arun Shouri, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha are aiming their frustration towards strategists of this election as it was their last chance and party blew it. These leaders have nothing to loose now, so attacking party functionaries openly. We can just say to them, “Hard luck dudes”
Drawing-Room Strategists: This is the group virtually running the show for last 7-8 years now. Arun Jaitely, Sudhindra Kulkarni, RaviShankar Prasad are the faces you see on TV debates and interviews. They can not possibly win a single seat for the party, but so called polished face of party. When party wins the election, they get the credit and when it loses, it is collective responsibility. Bravo friends, for showing us how to fool democracy. If BJP wants to revive itself, they have to curb the wings of this group and let mass leaders take charge of party. This group should be restricted in functions and should be made accountable as in a company.
Hindutva-Mass Leaders: These are the people who get the votes. They win the state elections, they do development work, they are the mass leaders. Modi, Rajnath, Yedurappa, Shivraj Singh, even Varun Gandhi. Some part of media is trying to project that Varun Gandhi show cost party votes. But if we look closely it was a positive factor only in terms of votes. People who votes for BJP, mostly are Hindutva supporters. Reasons of defeat were not in Hindutva, but in economy. Thank God that in national executive meeting Rajnath accepted that party is not going to leave hindutva just because of this debacle.
And where does RSS fits in all this? RSS is been always in favor of mass leaders as against the drawing room politics. RSS wants BJP to pursue Hindutva and be a party with difference again. Let us see what it can do.
It is a situation of disaster for party as it will be out of power for 10 years in a row. So it better get its act together and do a long term planning than to do a patchwork. It should make perfectly clear where it stands on economic, political, social, religious issues. Then only expect people and more importantly its own cadre to believe in it.
July 5th, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Hi,
One most important thing is Congress was not united in previous election.
July 5th, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Hi,
BJP has lost this election because of Jay ho amma, Jay ho Naidu and Jay ho Mamta. Up to 5 years BJP did not do anything in all these states. Remaining state BJP+ has got 160 and Congress+ got 160.
June 26th, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Dear Inder, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi is Marginalized and There has Been A Dimunition in His Status Within The Party.
Over They Years, He has Developed Rivalry with Advani and Is NOT in Any Party Position and Doesnt have A Say in Most of The Party Bodies.
If NOT For RSS, He would have been Forced to Resign.
Even in Vaajpayye Administration from ’98-’04 He was Out of The All Important Cabinet Committee on Security. He Always Demanded A Higher Portfolio such as Defence or External Affairs but had to Satisfy with The HRD Ministry.
If BJP is Serious About Garnering Hindutva Votes, Then Announce Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi as The Leader of Opposition in Parliament
June 26th, 2009 at 5:18 PM
I would Like to Add here that as BJP is Extremely Vulnerable now, They have to Aopt A Strategy They did in Mid Nineties.
Remember that BJP Could NOT have Won without Projecting AtlaJi in The Nineties, same way, BJP Should Project An Acceptable Face in The Coming Days.
Venkaiah Naidu would Be The Most Acceptable Face and Has A Pan India Image.
unfortunately, BJP has Made Arun Jaitley as Leader of Opposition in The Upper House Instead of Venkaiah Naidu.
I am Sorry to say, but, BJP is on A Decline and A Suicidal Mission.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:23 PM
bjp should appoint murali manohar joshi as its leader because he is the only hindutva face left after atal and advani
he is the only bjp minister who had done a lot of good job in atal government .
and at least he will consolidate the upper caste vote of bjp which is straying away to congress now a days
June 25th, 2009 at 12:25 AM
@mainak
BJP must evolve a new leadership based on new realities and new generation ideologies. This election even urban India did not vote for BJP.
@rone
Yes we all make mistakes, but BJP is making same mistake again as in 2004 by not thinking on basic and doing a patchwork. And about love stories, had a personal experience so had to do something about that. Promise of Reason will always be a political and social blog. Thanks for patience
June 24th, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Everybody made mistakes during this election.Including you, publishing a fantastic seat projection for BJP.
there may be differeces in the party for now.but consensus will arrive.new leadership will emerge.
But issues dont die down
Take sarbhjit,the way he is treated in pakistan and they way India treats afsal guru and ajamal kasab.
there are many many many more isssues.
naxalist extremism is one such issue you have written and I do apreciate that.
So why are you taking your eyes of the action and penning love stories?.
Please blog sharp..
June 24th, 2009 at 9:31 AM
The BJP was never a party with any ideology. The ideology of Hindutva was also borrowed/enforced upon it by the RSS. After the end of the Vajpayee era, there is no firm leadership to guide the party. They are all confused. They have no idea what Hindutva means and why they are all endorsing it.
That is why the party is falling apart.
In any case, I think the party shouldn’t stick to the Hindutva ideology. It should give that thing up and reorganize itself into a new and better party.