Revival of BJP

Bikash Choudhury




A strong central Govt. is as important as the principal opposition;any under graduate student of political science would vouch for. Recent political developments and parliament proceedings tells a tail of abject failure of BJP inside the parliament and outside. Apparently, BJP lost its mooring after two consecutive setbacks in parliamentary election;which, should not be the case for an Ideological party, as it is made out to be and claimed in public. Public perception makes and breaks the fortune of political party; it has become cliched statement, but, truth is not otherwise. BJP lost the 2004 election on negative perception created in the minds of general public across the country on Gujurat;although, party did well in the State of Gujurat. 2009 was a winable election for BJP but due to combination of myopic candidate selection and bad strategy into the run up to election sealed tha fate of party and its then leader Sri L.K. Advani. Idea of Bharat that is India is much bigger and pious than BJP & RSS put together; however, not many would grudge the credit to BJP and RSS for its significant & substantial contribution to the Idea of Bharat. BJP has a short term goal of winning power to pursue policy dear to its mentor as much as possible by retaining political power. RSS, instead has larger and long term goal of achieving "Akhanda Bharat" as per its own policy and method come what may. Apparently, the fight between two approaches has ruined the electoral prospects of BJP and party, it seems loosing in the game of public perception. The Jharkhand episode did not add any value to the party;rather, it weakened the trust of party workers on the leadership. The new party president Mr. Nitin Gadakari may have the blessings of RSS;but, he needs to earn the respect of senior central leaders by concrete action which may take time. Further, Gadakari does not have exposure in Delhi politics;which will remain his biggest handicap for some time. The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Smt. Sushama Swaraj has not come to her own and still prefer to play the back room boy of team Advani;which does not help create a perception of strong opposition in the lower house and affects the general image of the party outside. BJP needs a surgery with mutual consent any party worker would tell you. Party needs a leader of Late Pramod Mahajan's ability to steer through this current bad patch. A leader with stature, experience, organising ability and oratory to inspire the rank and file and to stop the slide in public perception of " A party with Ideology and party with a difference". Currently, there are two leaders, coincidentally both from the State of Bihar; Mr. Jaswant Sinha & Mr. Rajiv Pratap Ruddy. Mr. Sinha has no doubt stature of a great leader from old school of leadership that of former Prime Minister Sri Chandra Shekhar, being his ardent follower at some point of time and many other impeccable qualities and proven abilities that was tested during run up to V.P. Singh Govt. as Janata Dal party spokes person and subsequently as Finance Minister in Chandra Shekhar Govt. Mr. Sinha has also been a great organiser; given a choice and chance BJP would reap a wind fall gain. Rajiv Pratap Ruddy is another leader with promise and power to turn the table head on given a chance and, if necessity arise. Mr. Sinha should be elevated as leader of opposition in the lower house and Mr. Ruddy should be drafted to help the new president to gain a grip over the organisation and mobilise the workers to raise public opinion on the issues that is dear to people at large to build the party from scarch with active consensus of all senior leaders like Mr. Sinha, Ms. Swaraj, Mr. Naidu. Party would also do well to welcome former general secretary Sri Govinda Acarya & Vice President Mr. Kalyan Singh. The leaders must remind themselves about BJP's often repeated percept" Country first, Party next and individual last" if they wish to make a strong pitch for office, in the next round in general election to parliament in 2014.