BJP takes a different strategy in South India, where it faces stiff opposition

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 14^th September. Most election strategies are rushed. People do not sit down and talk about the religious, cultural, social, and economic aspects of the geography they are attempting to win over. The BJP, on the other hand, is unique. They arrive late but with excellent strategy. In Telangana, the saffron party is doing the same.

South India’s BJP

When we examine the map of India closely, we can see that the only major geographical bloc where the BJP is facing stiff opposition is South India. Nonetheless, the nationalist party is undeterred. It brings up important issues regarding Kerala’s painful Communist regime on a regular basis. Raising the issue of political killings in a communist regime takes guts.

Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, a strong support group is being formed. K. Annamalai, a fiery ex-IPS officer, is the leader of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu chapter. He is well-versed in the system, which includes politicians, the media, and other powerful organizations. One of the reasons Annamalai is so popular is because of the way he handles them.

The BJP is already in power in Karnataka. Indeed, the party is so confident in Karnataka that it is sending representatives to the Parliamentary board committee. Except for Karnataka, the BJP is not in power in any southern state.

Problems with the BJP in the South

The main issue has been that they did not strategize in accordance with the needs of the people. They frequently copied and pasted the strategies they had used in North India. Even so, it was not done completely and thus failed.

One of the major issues with the BJP’s strategy in South India has been the lack of a single power center from which it could control things. For example, in order to control UP and Bihar, the BJP knew it needed to control Lucknow. By gaining control of Lucknow, the BJP could gain control of 120 Lok Sabha seats and 646 assembly seats.

Apparently, South India has more than 120 Lok Sabha seats, and if a headquarter-like institution is established in the region, the BJP could gain many more seats than it has so far. Fortunately, they do not have to look for it. In fact, it appears that they have already found it.

Hyderabad appears to be a saviour

Hyderabad is the capital of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The BJP is carefully making inroads in the city, Telangana, and, by extension, South India.

Hyderabad, also known as Bhagyanagar, is more than just the capital of a South Indian state. At this point in time, it would not be incorrect to describe it as a cultural hub of southern India. Though Bengaluru and Hyderabad are easily comparable in terms of economy and other developmental prospects, this city is best known for its soft power.

Not only do politicians live in the city, but so do movie stars, cricketers, and world-class badminton players. Famous residents of Hyderabad include Mahesh Babu, Vijay Devarakonda, Allu Arjun, Nagarjuna, Jr NTR; cricketers VVS Laxman, Hanuma Vihari, and Mithali Raj; and badminton stars P V Sindhu and Sayna Nehwal, among others.

Celebrities are endorsing the BJP

The voting rules are straightforward. If you can win over a celebrity’s heart, their fan base will warm to you. The BJP is doing the same thing. The recent meetings of BJP leaders with South Indian celebrities have made headlines. Furthermore, local leaders are not taking the initiative. The BJP’s top brass is leading the charge. Amit Shah met Junior NTR, fueling speculation about him entering politics. Similarly, in August, J P Nadda met actor Nithin and cricketer Mithali Raj.

Talks of filmmakers enlightening people about the mayhem perpetrated by Razakars, Owaisis’ ancestors, are also circulating. If the project is approved, it will be implemented by V. Vijayendra Prasad, a Rajya Sabha member and S S Rajamouli’s father. As a result, the cancelation of a promotional event for the Bollywood film Brahmastra in the city is being viewed politically.

Not just a one-trick pony

However, it would be factually and demonstrably incorrect to claim that the BJP is making inroads through deception. Even the harshest critics understand that, unlike others, the BJP does not rely on such tricks. Furthermore, the saffron party has already been subjected to suit-busting jibes in the past, which is another reason why it would not want a high-profile image for the party’s top brass in state.

This is why its on-the-ground presence in the state is commendable. To galvanize public support, the BJP has deployed both local and national leaders. Top national leaders meeting Tollywood stars are also engaging in one-on-one conversations with the general public through public rallies and other events. Prime Minister Modi is one of them.

PM Modi’s visit to Hyderabad

PM Modi spoke at a public meeting in Hyderabad in early July. During the meeting, he stated unequivocally that the BJP is committed to the development of Telangana. He also admired the work ethics of state officials. PM Modi specifically targeted female voters by highlighting how BJP governments have empowered women wherever they have been in power.

PM Modi stressed the importance of unanimity between the central and state governments during the meeting. He asked the people to support him again, citing the center’s collaboration with states where the party is in power, as they did in the Greater Hyderabad elections. The mantra of double-engine growth made headlines as well. High-ranking officials such as Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh attended the meeting.

Hyderabad’s top brass

Home Minister Amit Shah launched the BJP’s campaign in Hyderabad 51 days later. He announced the removal of the KCR government from the state from the podium. He slammed KCR’s minority-friendly policies, telling people that KCR was not celebrating Telangana Liberation Day because of the possibility of losing Muslim vote banks. J P Nadda, the BJP’s national president, also visited Telangana a few days after Shah’s speech to address a rally.

Rallies and road shows

However, it is not just about public speeches. People show up and then forget about it. Retention is essential for converting feelings into votes. This is accomplished through massive road shows and rallies, which serve to demonstrate how serious the party is about gaining public support. The BJP is not leaving any stone unturned. The party is reaching the final mile of the state with the help of the Internet and other forms of communication. J P Nadda had kicked off the groundwork two days before PM Modi’s public meeting by holding a massive roadshow in Hyderabad. The loyal party cadre is also holding motorcycle rallies in various locations with the slogan ‘Palle Gosa – BJP Bharosa.’ These rallies highlight what the KCR is doing wrong and what the BJP could correct by coming to power. Another Yatra, the Praja Sangrama Yatra, which is held in stages, is also a step in this direction.

The BJP is employing a tried-and-true strategy

Campaigning on the road allows the BJP to stay in touch with the people’s needs. That’s how they realized issues like inflation and rising industry prospects weren’t going to work. Telangana is a wealthy state that ranks third in terms of per capita income. However, the downside of modern prosperity is that people yearn for their cultural roots. This is where the BJP’s cultural ties come in handy.

A coalition with Chandrababu Naidu is also a possibility

The BJP has set a target of 10 Lok Sabha seats out of 17 and 70 state Assembly seats out of 119. How much do they cost? To put things in context, the party has four MPs from the state and only one MLA in the state assembly. In the 2018 Assembly elections, the lone MLA was victorious. At the time, it appeared that the BJP would be completely expelled from the state. However, the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the Modi wave boosted the party’s cadre significantly. The increased number of MPs in the Lok Sabha elections has also prompted rival leaders to seek support from the BJP.

Chandrababu Naidu, who left the NDA in 2018, is now dissatisfied with vote bank politics. Naidu’s TDP recently backed BJP presidential nominee Draupadi Murmu. Furthermore, reports of BJP leaders interested in bringing Naidu on board have circulated. Naidu is extremely popular in Hyderabad, and his resurgence in Telangana may increase his chances of regaining power in Andhra Pradesh as well.

The KCR is assisting the BJP

Last but not least, Telangana’s perpetual Chief Minister, KCR, is digging his own political grave. While freebie politics is becoming increasingly unpopular, the man has cut his own leg by supporting it. He had previously mentioned changing the Constitution. Furthermore, KCR has national ambitions; he has stated that he will soon launch a national party. It appears to be an attempt to resurrect a failed experiment known as Mahagathbandhan with Nitish Kumar and others who have lost political ground since 2014.

Victory is easy for the BJP if they do not become complacent. Because the KCR has national ambitions, a void is likely to be created. The BJP must fill it, which is also a focal point of their prospects in South India. Only the BJP stands to lose. Only they have the ability to torpedo themselves.