Having saturated 18 states, BJP now looks at South India – Telangana first

The BJP has adopted two new slogans “Look South” and its extension, “Telangana first Tamil Nadu next” at its ongoing National Executive meet in Hyderabad.

The party believes that in the coming days its brand of Hindutva would create a positive wave for BJP in Telangana region which is at present dominated by caste calculations.

Three pronged attack

In the run up to the National Executive meet in Hyderabad, the party had tried to create a splash throughout the state. Its top leaders spread out in almost all 29 districts of Telangana propagating the party’s point of view. Prime Minister Narendra Modi camped in Hyderabad for two days and while addressing the national executive and a public rally, he built arguments on how BJP was increasingly getting acceptability in the state.

Also read: BJP will come to power in Bengal, Andhra, TN, will rule 30-40 years: Amit Shah

The BJP has adopted a political resolution, an organisational plan and ways to reach beneficiaries of the Centre’s various welfare schemes. Its approach in Telangana would be a modified version of what it did in Uttar Pradesh.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP attacked second generation dynasts such as Akhilesh Yadav and one person outfit such as Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party. In Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao’s family rule is bound to come under severe attack. On governance the party would continue to emphasise on the “double engine sarkar,” explaining the advantages of having a same party in power both at the Centre and in the states.

BJP is keen to go aggressive

The BJP is keen to take on both the TRS and the AIMIM in Telangana. Modi’s slogan of “Amrit Kaal,” the 25-year-long lead up to India@100, aims at transforming India’s politics and economics. Modi believes the key is getting Indian politics rid of its dynasts or what he terms as “Ghore Pariwarwaad.”

The party believes that it has already dealt a body blow to Congress party and its family politics by hitting hard at Nehru dynasts— Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka. The party has identified nationwide eight major families that dominate state politics and the intention is to decimate them politically. Therefore the slogan, “Baap, Beta, Beti sarkar,” targeting KCR, his son and daughter. Between 2013 and 2014 while addressing nearly 400 public rallies, Modi had attacked dynastic politics and that helped the party create an opinion against the Gandhi family.

Focus on eight years of achievements

The BJP’s economic resolution focuses on development projects in the coming 25 years. The roll out of 5G and 6G in telecom sector, space research and Gati Sakti— which is heavy investment in multi-modal transport systems and public infrastructure projects – are among them.

Also read: At Hyderabad meet, BJP takes stock of schemes’ outreach, slams KCR

While talking about development the economic resolution kept its focus on welfare schemes aimed at the poor— the management of Covid, relief to those living on the margins and how they were given access to various welfare programmes. These measures were recalled through, “Economic and Garib Kalyan Sankalp” resolution.

What’s different about Hyderabad meet? 

After Goa National Executive meeting in 2013 and subsequent General Council meets, the Modi-Shah duo focused on enlisting support of various regional parties expanding Vajpayee’s BJP Plus formula. This was further extended in subsequent years by opening its doors to leaders from the Congress and other parties such as Jyotiraditya Scindia from Madhya Pradesh, Himanta Biswal Sarma from Assam and Etela Rajasekhar from Telangana. While the former two belonged to Congress the latter was from TRS.

Motivating cadre, BJP style

The party brought back Vasundhara Raje Scindia from Rajasthan into focus at the meet by giving her the responsibility of briefing media on organisational resolutions. Vasundhara is now in charge of booth level What’sApp group, a novel idea to bring party’s booth level cadres into a single platform.

JP Nadda’s clarion call

BJP chief Jagat Prasad Nadda cautioned the cadres against resting on their laurels and said the office-bearers should carry on their ‘pravaas’ (travel to educate people about party ideology and programmes) more aggressively. While briefing the media, Vasundra Raje Scindia said that the role of ‘panna pramukh’ will be strengthened as part of party’s expansion plans. The party appoints panna pramukh in each booth, who is made responsible for making contact with the voters. An improved panna pramukh project is being prepared to build a direct connect between the party and the people.

BJP’s plan – 2014 is yielding fruits in 2022, now plan-2022 is in the works for 2047

BJP believes that it would dominate Indian politics for next two decades. With the Opposition in disarray, the party has drawn a map for next 25 years. In 2014, the BJP focused on the North East. In 2019 itself Amit Shah felt that the party had saturated in 18 states and it must, “look south.” The journey has begun now.

Modi believes that the two stumbling blocks in eradication of poverty is corruption and vote bank politics. The prime minister focused on this aspect for eight years and the party believes that this policy has managed to bring three crore families above poverty line. Some of them are now, ‘lakhpatis’ as they occupy their own houses, have access to cooking gas, electricity, bank accounts, toilets among other things.

Also read: With eye on 2024, BJP strives to oust Shiv Sena from Hindutva space

While focusing on elimination of dynastic politics and ensuring development BJP is also preparing its next gen leadership. This ranges from Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath, Himanta Biswa Sarma to Devedra Fadnavis, Loket Chatterjee, Anurag Thakur, Tejaswi Surya, K Annamalai and Nisith Pramanik.