BJP must choose between Ideology and Drift
Kanchan Gupta writes:
The BJP must decide its ideological direction/orientation, reframe ideology within the matrix of today’s India, and stand by it. Or it must boldly stand up and say, “Ours is an ideology neutral party. We shall sway with the wave.”
The consequences of the former course of action would be three-fold:
- Those allergic to ideological rigour will make an exit. This could debilitate the party in the short and medium term, but strengthen it in the long term.
- The BJP’s integrity quotient will increase.
- The drift which began in 1998 will be arrested.
The consequences of abandoning ideology would also be three-fold:
- Those who lack morals and scruples shall take over the party.
- The BJP will, in due course, become a pale shadow of its past and jostle for space with the RJD and SP.
- The drift will gather speed; integrity quotient (at an all time low) will plummet.
What do you think?
May 31, 2009 | Filed Under Contributions
Comments
17 Responses to “BJP must choose between Ideology and Drift”
Hi Kanchan,
I have written previously also that if BJP drifts in ideology it will be no different that other parties we have. It should stick to Hindutva and Cultural Nationalism. There is nothing worng in. They have to porperly communicated to people.
Each work has to pass through these stages—ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood. For BJP its the first and second satge, third stage will take time.
If BJP drifts ideologically it will be Congress’s B-Team and will miss my support.
Regards,
S.Chatterjee
Many guys who would have been carried away by the Media created image of Rahul Gandhi and the global loyality towards Gandhi family are now advising BJP to become like Congress and start following all its traits. Guys its fine you voted for congress but don’t advise BJP to become like Congress. Jansangh and BJP have lost almost all elections since 1952 and have not swayed away from their principles. When Public has to select us they will select for what we are. We messed up handling Media,one mistake which we did and we need to correct that.Rest we do not have to get carried away so much by this loss. BJP has to be prepared to loose many elections in future but stick to its principles otherwise Congress is always there and anyhow Indian public seems to be addicted to it.
Till Hindus are there in india, BJP is there and BJP is the only party for all Hindus including Dalits. It doesn’t do only lip service or give bread crumbs. It makes Mayawatis as Chief Minister.
BJP is the best friend of minorities and hope they will realize some day.
How BJP can connect with National Mind without drifting from its ideology will determine the future of BJP.Dont take the advice of present set of journalists who are no better than opportunistic centrist political parties and for whom National intrest does not matter any more.Let them redicule the Left and the Right,ultimatly it is parties with strong views and ideology which prevails.If it takes two years or ten years to connect so be it.
Could we have a section in this website where we collect the predictions of these columnists and check out their veracity with time?
I am sure it would be illuminating, and needless to say funny.
I dont understand why should we feel guilty for being hindus or wanting the essence of hindutva in governance? Neither did we persecute millions of jews in the name of religion nor did we kill thousands of muslims in the name of holy crusade or lust for cheap oil!
We must be more and more vocal on our values, media is painting us evil and the spokes’persons like sudheendra kulkarni act like congress implant in the BJP media cell.
We won the elections in 1996 due to ram mandir+ issues, in 1998 due to 13 day govt sympathy factor & in 1999 due to kargil war!! we lost in 2004 because we were talkin abt development(an alien theme then) in 2009 we were humiliated becoz BJP forgot where it belonged to and where it came from! BJP tried to play running with the hare and chasing with the hound!
In my opinion BJP should boldly without any guilt as a united house– should project NAMO as the next prime ministerial candidate and NAMO shouldn’t do an Advani by saying such things like jinnah was secular etc.,
If BJP sways away from its core then I wont wont for it ever!
BINGO
Thums Up!
I believe discussion of the next prime ministrial candidate should be opened up to all ‘card carrying’ members of BJP and then people like us should vote on who the party president and the next PM candidate should be. Once we do that and in fact it is something that needs to be done even for candidate selection in MP and MLA seats - we will see another point of a party with difference.
I see lot of analysis on why the election was lost and almost nothing on what should be done now in a concrete and specific. That is what is needed - nobody should cry over spilt milk - lets move on and see what needs to be done and put them in action.
My five points are as follows -
(1) Provide a clear stand against reservation policies based on caste and now soon to be religion. provide alternative based on means and not last names
(2) Define Hindutva in a clear and honest manner - help people understand that Hindutva is not just about building the Ram temple but lot bigger and powerful then that - it is about making India the greatest country in the world through development, and innovation.
(3) Define clearly the security policy.
(4) Define fiscal policy that is best for India for now and long run.
(5) Bring democracy within the party such that members choose the office bearers and candidates in their respective constituencies.
What are core values (even residual) of BJP. Building Ram Temple? Abolishing article 370? Bringing in anti-conversion laws? Abolishing Cow Slaughter?
I have no idea how any of the above is something a government should bother about.
Lot of my friends still forget the fact that hinduism (or the indian spirit) has survived thousands of years inspite of countless invasions (by far more powerful) without having an RSS or a BJP or a VHP.
The big problem with BJP is - it is focussing too much on broadbased ideology (while it practises none) and forgets the most important aspect of winning elections that is making sure you how you win each and individual seat. What is required for that is some sensible planning and execution.
Lot of people are cribbing about not being present in 200 odd seats (while it is important to target those eventually) it is of fundamental importance to manage atleast 50-60% of the 350 seats (that still gives 170 plus seats). So lets first try to make sure how we get to the 175 seats in these 350 seats and then worry about another 100 and what BJP is busy doing right now is making sure how to loose even in those 350 seats…
Let me give a simple analogy - I have to score 50% in an exam, so far I have covered only 70% of the syllabus (so can I realistically get atleast 55% of the 70% syllabus I have covered) and then may be another 5-10% of the remaining 30. That needs no ideology, value system or anything of that sort. All it needs a decent network (which BJP has) some smart execution (which BJP absolutely doesn’t have).
@ abhijit,
“Lot of my friends still forget the fact that hinduism (or the indian spirit) has survived thousands of years inspite of countless invasions (by far more powerful) without having an RSS or a BJP or a VHP.” — how shallow, even though India still has 85% of hindus they are not out of the slave mentality yet, an inferiority feeling, may be thats y we get jubiliant with a infosys/wipro whereas the US has Microsoft/Google, we are contented with 4 lane highways(in sum parts of india ofcourse), autobahn/motorways are all 8 lanes.
The core value of BJP is nationalism(i think, thts hw it used to be!)ther is nothing wrong in taking up the issues of honour(like ram mandir, article 370)after all ther is more to life than roti kapda makan, ther is a thing called honour, you mite hav forgotten it, no wonder! we were all slaves till 60 years ago.
gree to what you say with a minor twist.
Not all of us were even once appreciative of Gandi family.
I have grown up in a family which grooms children not only with morality based stories but also with examples from our own history.
My grandma and grandpa, from day one showed me how bad and cancerous Congress has been for This country since our motherland got independence.
I have never been a slave since my birth to this Gandi party.
Vande Mataram
I think the FOBJP are loosing the plot and the BJP is unnecessarily going on the back foot.
The BJP is the only political formation in the country to stand up for Hindus and that includes all sects and sub-sects and all religions which have grown out of Hindu religion such as the Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
But this certainly does not mean that the Hindus and the BJP hate other religions. If they would have done so, minorities in India would not have survived. Look at what has happened to the Hindus in Pakistan.
Whereas BJP stands up for the Hindus (since all other parties are scared as they believe in minority vote bank politics)it believes in SARV DHARM SAMBHAV.
And what is this talk about being “Moderate”. Does this mean that all those who voted for the BJP are extremists. Certainly not.
The need of the hour is to stick to the core ideology and explain to the people what it actally means, and this cannot be done through the media, as it enjoys twisting every word that is spoken by the BJP. Personal contacts through small gatherings is required. Doubts and quieries of people need to be answered. People need to be told that Ram Sene’s actions are not what the BJP stands for and NO BJP LEADER (PAST or PRESENT)should defend such actions in TV debates neither should they take part in such debates if he is not capable of convincing the people of the BJP’s point of view.
Further, BJP needs to expand its base in WB, Kerala, Andhra and TN.
It has to come back in UP.
It cannot depend on any ally as none of them are reliable.(Even Shiv Sena ditched BJP during the Presidential Election).
HINDUTVA, RAM TEMPLE, ARTICLE 370, UNIFORM CIVIL CODE can only be achieved if we are able to get a majority (272 seats) on our own.
And people will vote for the BJP only if they are convinced that it can provide good governance, growth and prosperity which will give them Roti, Kapda, Makaan, Bijli, Sadak, Paani, Shiksha, Chikitsa and Roozgaar.
And the BJP should be able to convince the people that it is not a party which believes in violence against young boys and girls outside pubs or on Valetine Day or talks of “Haath kaat doonga”. There are better ways to convince youngsters about the vices and virtues of life.
REPLY TO ABHIJIT
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Yes it is true that Hinduism has survived thousands of years without Rss & Bjp but we had several incarnations like Sankaracharya,Chandragupta maurya,Maharana pratap& Sivaji maharaj, to name a few.Remember what Sree Krishna said “whenever there is a danger to dharma i will reincarnate myself in various ways to protect the dharma”
Moreover what happened to the hindus of central asia,iran,afghanistan,pakistan and bangladesh. Afghanistan which was once the cradle of vedic culture is now devoid of any dharma.
Don’t drag Shivaji into this. He was king of common people and peasants . His was the first walfare state in south India. AND he had many trusted Muslim coleagues. Though a staunch Hindu, he never propagated hatered towards other faiths. RSS VHP better learn from him how to be a good hindu without muslim bashing.
kira
before commenting on Rss first you try to understand what rss is. It’s easy for every body to criticise just for the sake of criticising. Infact now a days it has become a fashion of hindutva bashing. And when you are saying that shivaji maharaj was having many trusted muslim colleagues what are you trying to prove. Do you know how many nationalistic muslims are assosciated with rss, have you ever been to an rss shakha or camp. It’s ok that you are ignorant but don’t try to impose your ideas on others.
reply to kira
before commenting on Rss first you try to understand what rss is. It’s easy for every body to criticise just for the sake of criticising. Infact now a days it has become a fashion of hindutva bashing. And when you are saying that shivaji maharaj was having many trusted muslim colleagues what are you trying to prove. Do you know how many nationalistic muslims are assosciated with rss, have you ever been to an rss shakha or camp. It’s ok that you are ignorant but don’t try to impose your ideas on others.
@kira
As I said before there is no muslim bashing because of BJP. Its a false intrument given to many people out here to present congress as a nationalist party.BJP in my experience has not done anything wrong to muslims atall. What topics are these and why are we not talking in direct terms and debating about performance of each govt? Why muslims are used as instruments to measure the performance of a party? There are tens of thousands of measures for this.