Haryana win, J&K show will silence BJP’s critics, strengthen Modi's hold over NDA

The spectacular victory in Haryana and its unforeseen performance in Jammu and Kashmir have come as a relief for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was facing relentless criticism for nearly four months after its below-par performance in the Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP leadership faced criticism not just from Opposition parties but also from its own alliance members who urged the ruling party to make changes in the Agniveer scheme and also asked the Union government to find solutions to the demands of farmers who wanted a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP).

Criticism within NDA

While the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) wanted a review of the Agnipath scheme and a dialogue with farmers, the JD(U) was not alone in making these demands. Soon after the Lok Sabha polls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar squarely blamed the ire of farmers for the dismal performance of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Maharashtra, where the BJP and its allies could win only 17 seats out of 48.

“For the past four months, the BJP has been facing a sustained campaign. The victory in Haryana and the performance in Jammu and Kashmir are because of the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP has returned to power in Haryana and it has got the largest vote share in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP has improved its performance in both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir,” RP Singh, national spokesperson of BJP, told The Federal.

Apart from protests by farmers and demand for changes in the Agnipath scheme, the protests by wrestlers also helped Opposition parties corner the BJP leadership both inside and outside the Parliament.

Also read: Why a Haryana win could give BJP a solid edge against JMM in Jharkhand

Just in time for key elections

The electoral performance of the BJP in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir is likely to help the party get its mojo back before the crucial elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The BJP has been facing pressure from its NDA partners who want a greater share of seats in both the states and have also complained to the BJP leadership that they have not got any representation in the Union Cabinet.

While the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), a key member of the NDA, has been vocal to remind the BJP that it is not part of the Union Cabinet, the Nationalist Congress Party under Ajit Pawar has also said it will not join the Union government without a Cabinet seat. The Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde is also keen to have representation in the Union Cabinet.

Better bargaining power

Senior BJP leaders also believe that the party’s performance in the two states will strengthen its bargaining power with its alliance partners in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra. The NDA partners have so far not been able to finish the seat-sharing talks in the two election-bound states and the BJP leadership now hopes that the election victories will help it consolidate its position within the NDA.

“There is no doubt that the victory in Haryana and the performance in Jammu and Kashmir will help boost the election campaign of the BJP and the NDA in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The BJP’s performance shows that it can defeat the politics of fragmentation promoted by the Congress with the help of people, and it is clear that people have endorsed the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. It is the victory of good governance model of PM Modi,” Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, vice-chairman of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, an RSS-linked think tank based in Mumbai, told The Federal.

Also read: A repeat of 'Gujarat formula' does the trick for BJP in Haryana

Choice of new BJP president

The election victory in Haryana and the BJP’s performance in Jammu and Kashmir will also help the BJP leadership take a breather from the ongoing tussle with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the choice of the next BJP president.

The tenure of BJP president JP Nadda comes to an end in December. While the consultations between the BJP and the RSS continue over the choice of the next party president, the election performance is likely to help the BJP leaders consolidate their position for the choice of the next BJP president.

Although the names of several candidates for the post of BJP president are being discussed between the BJP and the RSS, Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupendra Yadav played an important role in the BJP victory in Haryana. Among the leaders whose names have been discussed is Vinod Tawde, BJP’s general secretary from Maharashtra.

Huge boost for Modi

Political analysts believe that the BJP’s electoral performance in Haryana will act as a huge boost for Prime Minister Modi and help the BJP strengthen its hold over the NDA.

“This is a huge victory for PM Modi. It is going to help the BJP consolidate its position within the NDA and it will also help him end all criticism within the BJP. The talk about the tussle between the BJP and the RSS will now become a thing of the past,” pointed out Yatindra Singh Sisodia, Director, MP Institute of Social Science Research, Ujjain.

“The BJP has managed to win a state that was considered a sure victory for the Congress, but this Haryana result will help the BJP and its cadres in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra. It will instil a sense of self-belief within them that they can win both states,” Sisodia told The Federal.