Imphal Times Supplementary issue may fail to secure leader of the Quietly, relentlessly RSS worked opposition post again behind the scenes to power BJP win Agency security, this government reverses in the assembly Agency New Delhi May 24, scored well. After the Balakot elections. New Delhi May 24, strikes [on a terror camp in Its social engineering was seen For the Rashtriya Pakistan], not even China at play in Rajasthan this year, The Congress is unlikely to Swayamsevak Sangh, the could stand with Pakistan,” when it helped woo Gujjar get the post of the Leader of Bharatiya ’s (BJP) said a senior RSS functionary. quota protest leader Kirori the Opposition (LoP) in Lok big win is not only a For the RSS, indications that Singh Bainsla, and in its efforts Sabha for a second time in a referendum on the saffron caste-based parties are losing to engage with the Jats in row as it has yet again failed party’s performance on their grip on the electorate Haryana where the agitation for to get 10% seats in national security and on have emerged as a high point Other Backward Class Parliament’s lower House. economic and international of the general election. reservations in February 2016 To get the LoP post, a party fronts, but also a sign that its Manmohan Vaidya, RSS put the BJP government in a should get 55 out of the 543 social engineering has been joint general secretary, said, precarious position. Lok Sabha seats. At the time successful in coalescing “It was a contest between the The RSS cadre also tried to of filing this report, the Hindu votes. idea of Bharat, which is all- assuage the upper castes, Congress had won or was The RSS, the BJP’s ideological inclusive, holistic and integral who were against the leading on 52 seats, three short parent, has been persistently and the un-Indian school of ordinance that restored the of the numbers needed to get working behind the scenes to thought that sees as provisions of the SC/ST the post. help the party overcome several identities and divides Prevention of Atrocities Act After the Bharatiya Janata caste-based polarisation that society on the basis of caste, after the Supreme Court Party (BJP)-led National posed a challenge, especially religion etc for its personal banned automatic arrests Democratic Alliance but it refused to accord him general secretaries and in- family pocket borough of in the Hindi heartland states gains.” under it last year. government came to power in the LoP status. charges of states may also Amethi but won from Wayanad that contribute a sizeable The improvement in the BJP “The results are a sign of 2014, it refused to give the LoP Previously, it was in 1985 that follow suit. in Kerala, is also expected to number of seats to the Lok vote share, a functionary said, waning caste-based politics, post to the Congress arguing the then Lok Sabha Speaker In 2014, after the drubbing in carry out an extensive overhaul Sabha. was vindication of the party’s which is long overdue. It is that with 44 members it did not Balram Jakhar did not give the the Lok Sabha elections, then of the organisation. Senior RSS functionaries said assertion that it is not anti- also a sign that areas meet the requisite criteria. LoP post to the Telugu Desam Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Four states — Maharashtra, on condition of anonymity minority or against Scheduled traditionally considered There were protests from the Party, which was then the and Rahul Gandhi, the then Haryana, Jharkhand and people had chosen a Castes/Scheduled Tribes as fortresses that the BJP could Opposition as the LoP is part second largest party after the party vice-president, offered to Jammu and Kashmir — will be government that did not was alleged by the Opposition. not breach are also looking at of the selection panels for key Congress. resign but the CWC going to the polls later this year. demur from taking decisions “There was a concerted the party as an option,” said appointments to statutory It depends entirely on the unanimously rejected it. Assembly elections in Delhi on security, policies and campaign to drive away the a third functionary, referring bodies such as the Central government whether to give Saturday’s meeting could see will be held in February next international affairs perceived Dalits and the Adivasis (STs) to the southern states. Vigilance Commissioner and the LoP post to the a repeat of that. The CWC will year. as “drastic”. But it is the BJP’s from the BJP, even though they According to RSS general the Lokpal. The LoP is also on Congress considering it has also review the shortcomings Rahul Gandhi has the task cut showing in Uttar Pradesh, benefitted from the secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi, the panel to select the Central marginally improved its in communicating the party’s out for him now – to make the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan government’s inclusive India was fortunate to once Bureau of Investigation performance this time. Nyay (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) party fighting fit in these states, and Bihar, where caste fault policies,” a second functionary again have a stable director. The Congress will promise to the voters. The party especially to take on the BJP lines run deep, that has based in UP said. government. “This is the The Congress raised the issue separately now deliberate had promised a minimum which boasts of well-oiled pleased the Sangh. Anticipating hiccups in tribal triumph of national forces. with then Speaker Sumitra on the poll outcome. The guaranteed income of Rs 72,000 machinery on the ground. The alliance of the Samajwadi areas, in SC regions and in MP, Many compliments to each Mahajan insisting that it Congress Working annually to the country’s 20% Rahul Gandhi is expected to Party (SP) and the Bahujan Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and everyone who has should get the post as it was Committee (CWC), the poor families under the change many state chiefs and Samaj Party (BSP), relying on where the BJP lost the contributed to this victory of the largest opposition party party’s highest decision- scheme. also appoint new general the caste calculus in UP, was assembly elections in 2018, RSS democracy,” he said. and had pre-poll alliances in making body, is meeting on But reports from the ground secretaries and in-charges of expected to upset the BJP’s pulled out all stops to canvass “We wish that with the certain states. But she too Saturday to draw up its suggested that the voters states. chances. This concern for BJP. It worked to win back completion of polling process, declined the request, citing the future plans. were not excited about the poll By doing this, he would seek overshadowed all others for tribal votes in MP, where loss all bitterness will end and the past precedents and the Congress president Rahul promise, given that Congress to send a message that the the RSS. of their support was seen to verdict of the masses is attorney general’s opinion. Gandhi has taken the leaders and workers failed to Congress was ready to shed “On issues of national have contributed to BJP’s welcomed with humility.” The government was finally responsibility for the poll effectively publicise the its status quoist tag and take compelled to include debacle and might even offer proposed poverty alleviation hard decisions as it prepares Congress leader Mallikarjun to step aside at the CWC scheme. to fight the BJP in state CM Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot Kharge in the selection panels meeting. His entire team of Rahul Gandhi, who lost his assembly elections. loses to union minister GS Shekhawat Amit Shah’s master plan for Uttar Pradesh Agency in 2014 and the BJP’S vote victory in last year’s assembly New Delhi May 24, percentage was 66.15. This time elections, Jodhpur was Jodhpur registered considered a safe seat for derails SP, BSP Chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s 68.41% polling and there were Vaibhav, but a Modi wave son and Congress’ Jodhpur 10 contestants. Shekhawat got spoiled all political equations. Agency problem. The upper caste base honour him than any the toilet, anyone who got candidate Vaibhav Gehlot lost 7,88,888 votes and Vaibhav Of the eight assembly seats New Delhi May 24, looked shaky at the end of last government in the past. money for housing knew to BJP candidate and union 5,14,448 votes. under the Jodhpur year. National security may seem Modiji had given the house, minister of state for agriculture Also read: Lok Sabha election parliamentary constituency, the In the middle of last year, The BJP, hence, first got into like an elite concern, but with anyone who got a cylinder Gajendra Singh Shekhawat by results 2019: BJP’S alliance with Congress has now six (BJP) damage control mode to get both these social groups, the knew Modiji had given the a margin of 2,74,440 votes. RLP’s Hanuman Beniwal pays legislators. In none of the president, Amit Shah, told an back its core vote. It message of delivering a strong cylinder,” said a UP BJP leader. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, off assembly seats, Vaibhav got an interlocutor he doubted that announced a 10% reservation response to terror resonated. These government schemes, Shekhawat had defeated Ashok Gehlot visited Jodhpur edge. Mayawati and Akhilesh for the economically weaker The BJP now had its the party believes, Chandresh Kumari of the more than six times and even Shekhawat even took a lead of Yadav would actually come sections of general castes; it messaging in place, targeted constructed a vote of the Congress from Jodhpur by 4.10 launched a door-to-door 18827 votes from Sardarpura, together. But he quickly reached out to the RSS, VHP at all social groups. poor for Modi, expanded the lakh votes. There were 13 campaign in support of his son. CM’S home assembly added, “Par agar aana hai and Hindu saints associated “LABARTHI” BJP’s class base. contestants in the constituency Considering the Congress constituency. toh aa jayein. Dekh lenge. with the Ram Janmabhoomi The party was aware that NARENDRA MODI Yeh bhajapa unse ladega. movement to neutralise their political messaging in itself But the micro-messaging (But if they have to come anger. Finally, it raised the was not enough. It needed to needed a common thread. How Opposition failed to stop the together, let them. We will see. pitch on nationalism after the show to the constituencies And that thread was the This BJP will fight Balakot strikes. Slowly but which had supported it in the persona of Narendra Modi. them.)”Privately, the party’s surely, the upper castes past – and possibly newer As a party strategist, sitting Modi wave, despite unity effort state strategists were rattled. returned to Modi. voters – that the government in the BJP campaign office in Agency conveyed that Gandhi was last few days, Pawar was the How could they beat the To the non-Yadav backward had delivered. This is where it Varanasi, told this writer last New Delhi May 24, attempting to flee the threat in man trying to get allies such as might of the two strongest castes, the BJP machine spoke constructed the idea of week, “Modi is fighting in Amethi and he lost the seat, BJD’s Naveen Patnaik on regional leaders across the of the sunwai, the voice, they labarthis, or beneficiaries. The each of the state’s 80 seats. They came, they met and then which had been with his family board. Now, it is unclear if Hindi heartland? After all, the had gained in the present Modi government’s flagship Nothing else is relevant. It is they lost the game. The for three decades, other than Pawar will ever be able to party’s success in 2014 and dispensation and reminded achievement in its first term in all about one question: Do opposition league, which was in 1998. After five years of realise his dream of being prime 2017 had relied substantially them of the days of Yadav office has been the delivery of you want him as PM or not? toying with names such as having the Congress at its minister. on a split in the anti-BJP vote. domination. It made rural assets: Housing, toilets, And mark my words, his Secular Democratic Front, failed lowest Lok Sabha tally of 44, Prime ministerial ambitions But much before Samajwadi microalliances where gas cylinders, and popularity has increased.” to dent or stop the Narendra Gandhi could only improve the were there for India’s two power Party (SP) and Bhaujan Samaj necessary, like the one with electrification. This has been Indeed, the Modi wave was Modi wave. “Today I won’t go count by less than 10 seats. women, West Bengal chief Party (BSP) came together, the ’s Anupriya Patel or supplemented with Ayushman palpable on the ground and into what led to the loss,’’ said The other regional leader to minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP hunkered down and Nishad Party. The PM Kisaan Bharat. There has been special we met voters who had one Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. take a hit is Nationalist BSP’s Mayawati. The BJP crafted a strategy to take them scheme played a role in attention, with regard to all thing in common: They “It is a fight of ideologies and I Congress Party chief Sharad threatened both by having a on. regenerating support of this these schemes, in UP. The wanted Modi back. congratulate Prime Minister Pawar. His daughter Supriya gap of just four MPs in Bengal SOCIAL COALITION segment of voters as well. A Adityanath government, The party used Modi Narendra Modi.’’ Sule managed to hang on to the and limiting the grand alliance The first element in the plan large segment of these caste monitored by the Prime strategically, getting him to To defeat Modi, Gandhi had Baramati family seat, but his to 15 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 10 was to go back to the 60-40 groups — from agrarian Minister’s Office, was tasked address close to 30 rallies, agreed to give up several nephew Parth Pawar, who was of them for BSP. formula. This was devised backgrounds — were furious with ensuring last mile especially in constituencies things. He hadn’t insisted on hoping to make his Lok Sabha “It was too polarised,’’ said a when Shah was the general at the end of last year at the delivery, a special challenge in seen as vulnerable and where being the opposition’s PM debut, lost out. While Parth TMC MP. “We should have secretary in charge of Uttar stray cattle menace. In UP. it was felt a Modi push would candidate and he let regional described the results as made it about Bengal because Pradesh (UP) back in 2014. January, the state government The schemes had their flaws make all the difference. leaders Sharad Pawar and “shocking’’, his uncle termed when we focussed on that in Yadavs, Muslims and Jatavs began to address the issue by and challenges. But in a It was this mix of Narendra Chandrababu Naidu take the them “unexpected’’, which may the last phase, we did well.’’ together comprise around 40% constructing cow sheds. remarkable instance of Modi’s appeal, a formidable lead in stitching the alliance. In be an understatement for the Banerjee now has two years for of the electorate. The BJP had Many voters we met expressed synergy between the party party structure, a robust the end, it simply wasn’t NCP that managed just four the fight in the assembly polls, relied on mobilising the other their anger at the issue, but and the government, the BJP social coalition sustained by enough. The Bharatiya Janata seats despite farmers’ distress though the BJP contends that 60% in both 2014 and 2017. saw it as a state-specific machine, from the middle of micro-messaging, Party had successfully impacting Maharashtra. In the 50 of her MLAs want to quit. This would include upper concern rather than one which last year, began reaching out government schemes, and castes, all backward groups would affect national election to individual beneficiaries the slogan of nationalism that except Yadavs, and all Dalit voting patterns. directly. The BJP went to each delivered UP to the BJP yet groups except Jatavs. This To non-Jatav Dalits, the village, and to each booth, to again in the face of a time , the party would need to party’s political message was identify labarthis (data was formidable coalition. Modi, replicate this social coalition, of equity. Modi, in his available from government Shah, and the party’s UP team but ensure their voters turned campaign speeches, invoked records). “We went so many have rewritten the rules of the out in even higher numbers. Ambedkar and how the times that anyone who got a political game in the There was, however, a government had done more to toilet knew Modiji had given heartland.

Edited by Rinku Khumukcham, Owned and Published by Iboyaima Khuman at Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, Imphal and Printed by him at M/s Imphal Times Printers, Elangbam Leikai Imphal West, Contact No. 2452159, Resident Editor- Jeet Akoijam