BJP trying to make inroads into Kerala, West Bengal and Odisha
BJP trying to make inroads into Kerala, West Bengal and Odisha
Sunday, 15 October 2017
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The BJP has got into poll campaign gear after completing its half term as the ruling party at the Centre. Senior leaders of the party have started visiting the states where the party has done very poorly in the previous Lok Sabha polls and also state assembly elections. The present campaign launched by the BJP leaders in the Left-ruled Kerala aims at creating a favourable political atmosphere for itself prior to the next general elections.
The BJP has got into poll campaign gear after completing its half term as the ruling party at the Centre. Senior leaders of the party have started visiting the states where the party has done very poorly in the previous Lok Sabha polls and also state assembly elections. The present campaign launched by the BJP leaders in the Left-ruled Kerala aims at creating a favourable political atmosphere for itself prior to the next general elections.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has a strong base in Kerala. The clashes between the RSS cadre and the Marxist parties’ cadre have been going on in the coastal state for the past few decades and many persons from both the sides have lost lives in these violent incidents. A similar situation also exists in West Bengal. In this state, too, activists of the two rival cadre-based organisations have been killed. Despite a strong presence of the RSS, the BJP has not been able to achieve a spectacular political harvest in these two Left-dominated states.
It is said that neither the Left front nor the RSS is interested in ending the violent political war in Kerala as it is found advantageous to them in the polls. Tragically both the warring groups have lost an equal number of persons in the clashes and both the groups have been flaunting the lists of their own martyrs to win the sympathy of the electorates.
Odisha is another state where the BJP has been trying hard to find a foothold but in vain.
The RSS-mentored organisations have also been working hard in this eastern state where there is a sizable Muslim and Christian population. The state has seen organised attacks against the Christian community for the past many years. The live burning of Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines along with his two minor children and the repeated spate of clashes in tribal-dominant Kandhamal district are some of the examples in this regard.
The Navin Patnaik-led ruling Biju Janata Dal in that state had snapped its ties with the BJP in 2009 after 11 years, following the Kandhamal riots. Since then, BJD has shunned both the Congress and the BJP and yet managed to retain its political supremacy in the state as well as the Lok Sabha polls. Patnaik, who is presently serving the fourth term as chief minister, has since then retained his image as a secular leader. Despite his long regime, both the Congress and the BJP have been unable to level any serious corruption charges against him. That is why Patnaik retained his supremacy even during the Narendra Modi wave in the previous Lok Sabha polls.
West Bengal, too, has witnessed fierce violent clashes between the Trinamool Congress, the Left parties and the BJP. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has so far succeeded in winning the confidence of the dominant minority communities in the state. In this state, too, BJP is not a major contender for power. The party has not succeeded in creating any issue in West Bengal, which would divide the voters on communal grounds and thus grab more Lok Sabha or assembly seats in its kitty.
The BJP is aware that it needs to improve its Lok Sabha tally in Kerala, West Bengal and Odisha if it wants to retain power after 2019 general elections. The BJP’s rival parties would also resort to various strategies and gimmicks to lure the voters. These three states have already witnessed enough uncalled violence and strife. It is hoped that in the run-up to the next general elections, the major political parties do not create animosities among various groups to achieve their short-term aim of political power.
The BJP is aware that it needs to improve its Lok Sabha tally in Kerala, West Bengal and Odisha if it wants to retain power after 2019 general elections. The BJP’s rival parties would also resort to various strategies and gimmicks to lure the voters. These three states have already witnessed enough uncalled violence and strife. It is hoped that in the run-up to the next general elections, the major political parties do not create animosities among various groups to achieve their short-term aim of political power.
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