The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won a historic victory in the Battlefield State of Uttar Pradesh (UP). In a first in Indian election history, Yogi Adityanath is set to become the UP Prime Minister for a second successive term.
In the five states where elections were held – Uttarakhand, Manipur, Punjab, Goa and UP – the BJP won four, with Punjab and the Aam Admi Party (AAP).
The results came as a surprise to many observers, due to the economic difficulties faced by the people in the post-pandemic environment. Attention was mainly focused on UP, where it was thought that the incumbency factor was working against the BJP, whose CM was looking for a different term. About 150 million voters went to the polls in the most popular state of the country, resulting in a one-time victory for the BJP.
What was it that led to this victory? It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to the Hindu voters who worked. A fusion of religion and politics was successfully marketed, with Modi projected to be the educators of Hindu rights. Some 70% of BJP supporters belong to lower castes, which are not considered equal in terms of rights with other castes of the Hindu faith. Modi and Adityanath presented themselves as fighters and defenders not only to secure the “real” rights of the majority Hindu population, but also to ensure that they alone are the arbitrators of the fate of India.
However, by doing so, the BJP leaders have jeopardized the secular foundations of Indian democracy. Supporting the slogan of Hindu majorityism works for immediate gain, but in the process it also sows the seeds of discord, hatred, acrimony and polarization, thereby threatening violation of the foundations of a multicultural and multi-ethnic society. such as India, which in a number of states is already confronted with “movements” for freedom. The antagonization of India’s Muslim community, which accounts for about 15% of the total, would not help the country gain stability.
Although every fifth voter in the UP was a Muslim, the BJP did not field a single Muslim candidate for the more than 400 seats of the Legislative Assembly, which clearly demonstrates its communal and racist orientation and registration information. There are many areas in the state where Muslims are in majority. Even in those Muslim-majority areas, party tickets were awarded to non-Muslim candidates. In response, the majority of Muslim voters responded to the Samajwadi party’s support. This led to more votes in Samajwadi party security, but not enough to beat the BJP.
Another reason for the impressive BJP victory is the lack of leadership in the Congress party, which has been almost decimated in some states. Congress, with its tradition of secularism, pluralism and democracy, has long supported Muslims when their security or interests are threatened. But with Congress no longer able to attract the masses, the minorities in India feel insecure and insecure. This is not good for a large country whose largest minority faces an uncertain future.
But even if it is a question mark over India’s future as a vibrant, democratic country, the BJP expects that the prevailing political trend will continue until the 2024 general election. Modi and Adityanath have emerged as formidable political figures in India who are flourishing on the growing wave of Hindu nationalism. This is alarming for those who struggle to see India remain secular for unity among an ethnically diverse population. The rise of autocrats like Adityanath on the political landscape of India also does not bode well for the future of South Asia. Equally worrying is how millions of Indians can be so easily overcome by populist slogans of the rise of Hindu nationalism; and how the forces of secularism, pluralism, and tolerance in the face of an attack by religious bigots withdrew.
What is happening in India is a concern for the whole region. The Hindu right-wing Juggernaut must be tested not by heartfelt ideological counter-attacks, but by creating closer contacts so that the forces of tolerance can break through all strata of society. Putting India back on the path of pluralism without religious fanaticism is a difficult task, but one that must be accomplished if dangerous polarization of society is to be prevented.
Published in the Express Tribune, March 22ndnd2022
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