What is Centre-Right?
There has been a lot of discussion between BJP following a centre-right path. But what exactly does that mean? An editorial in the Financial Express recently (June 16) tried to address this issue:
The traditional Western notion—a centre-right party shows more faith in markets, prefers small government, dislikes welfarism and is comfortable with business—will need modifications, given political realities. For one, the government’s minimal role in a country like India is considerably bigger than that in advanced industrial economies. Second, the articulation of that role is being done reasonably effectively by the Congress, leaving the BJP not enough room for product differentiation. Theoretically, the BJP can critique wasteful government. But India’s political economy will reward suppliers of somewhat effective government more than it will punish polished critiques of big government. The same problem applies in taking the classical centre-right position on welfarism in India. Indeed, and to give credit where it’s due, the BJP sort of understands this, which is why its election manifesto differed from the Congress’s only in details, not in broad political economic approach.
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9 Responses to “What is Centre-Right?”
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FRIENS OF BJP
My definition of Centre-Right Ideology under 3 broad categories -
A. Political - Right-wing Nationalist
B. Socio-Cultural - Conservative, Hindutva as
defined by Supreme Court of
India in 1995 judgment
C. Economic - Liberalism, Free Markets as represented by Swatantra Party in 60s and 70s.
National Heros who represent the BJP thought and legacies which BJP should appropriate
Political - Right-wing Nationalist - Sardar Patel, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee from Indian Freedom struggle and Jayaprakash Narayan from anti-emergency movement
Socio-Cultural - Conservative, Hindutva - Deen Dhayal Upadhyay and Balasaheb Deoras from RSS
Economic - Liberalism, Free Markets - C.Rajagopalachari, K.M.Munshi, H.M.Patel, N.G.Ranga and Minoo Masani from Swatantra Party
National Leaders who stood for all these 3 together and created a Centre-Right pole in the otherwise unipolar Indian Polity -
A.B.Vajpayee and L.K.Advani.
BJP has always shown great respect for all other leaders like Sardar Patel, NSC Bose, Ambedkar and Jayaprakash Narayan but never bothered to take over the Legacy of the only Centre-Right party that existed in India, “SWATANTRA PARTY” and its highly distinguished visionalry Leadership Led by C.Rajagopalachari.
Rajaji was a towering figure and commands great respect in the minds of all Indians. Also he being from South India will render BJP more acceptable in South if it appropriates his legacy.
Why is this? Hope someone from BJP/RSS is listening!!
This article by Arun Shourie is a good read. Also, has some thinking of the right of centre
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/new-beginnings/476900/
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Why is this increasing tendency to mould BJP on the lines of American Right wing just because BJP happen to be right wing party? Indian nationalism should draw its soul and sword from our own resources. The ideas of state and statecraft are very well articulated in our scriptures and our knowledge systems in this regard have lot more to offer.
The article is rubbish like the author
I don’t understand this center-right ideology, however, one thing is clear. BJP needs to expand its base in key states like A.P, T.N, Kerala and W.B. If the party doesn’t hand over the leadership to a dynamic and a young leader it will have to see the prospects of getting a double digit figure in the 2014 elections. BJP needs to take the situation seriously and work hard to improve its performance.
I love Michael Jackson and I love Narendra Modi & the BJP. The media has killed Jackson and is trying to destory Modi and the BJP.
We need to destroy the media before it’s too late.