INDIA numbers ensure BJP-led NDA is ‘reformed’

A new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by the BJP has taken charge and now, all eyes are on the policies and programmes it frames for different sections of society.

During the heady campaign leading to the Lok Sabha elections, leaders of the NDA had hit out at apparent moves to appease the minority community and had time and again, tried to build a rhetoric that they were in favour of the majority Hindu community.

But now, the situation has entirely changed and the BJP is crucially reliant on the support of its two allies, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal(United) to stay in power.

The party which had won more than 300 seats in the 2019 parliamentary elections, has seen its tally sliding by around 60 seats to 240 and it will have to carry along its allies when it comes to taking and executing major policy decisions.

Antagonising allies would literally mean driving them into the lap of the Opposition INDIA grouping which is sure to be looking for an opportune time to bring down the government.

Unlike the stands often taken by BJP leaders, both Nitish Kumar of the JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP are known for their pro-minority measures when in power.

Their crucial reliance on the minorities has seen them through troubled times and they are unlikely to make a radical shift in their stances vis-à-vis minority rights, just for the sake of pleasing the BJP.

So one can expect minority bashing’ which was more than evident during NDA rule in the past, likely to be pushed to the backburner in the larger interests of coalition politics. 

Naidu and Nitish are also considered pretty close to leaders of the opposition and are not likely to take kindly to moves to act vindictively against top ranking Opposition leaders - something the BJP has reportedly indulged in more than once with central agencies going after Opposition leaders, many of whom are still behind bars.

Many in the media must also be breathing easy now that there is a ‘true’ coalition in place at the Centre and the targeting of sections of the media which seem to antagonise the ruling front, is likely to be a thing of the past.

One can also expect major changes on the economic front amid talk that the BJP may retain key portfolios including finance.

Both Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have a significant number of the poor and leaders of these states are sure to push for pro-poor policies and more funds for rural job schemes like MGNREGS, which saw its funds cut heavily during the earlier government’s tenure.

Lynchings and ‘bulldozer politics’ which were identified with the tenure of the previous government, are sure to be met with a disapproving look from leaders of the coalition other than those of the BJP for they have their electoral interests to protect.

Biased approaches vis-a-vis the demands of states not ruled by the BJP are also likely to be frowned upon by both Nitish and Naidu, who as chief ministers, must have experienced the impact of such discriminatory approaches.

So one can expect the BJP and its leaders to shed their ‘overbearing approach’ and tread cautiously on all sensitive issues for fear of upsetting the coalition dharma.

The BJP no doubt, is caught in a conundrum after being in the driver’s seat for ten years riding over any opinion it could not agree with.

Party leaders will have to be all ears to any objections coming from its alliance partners - a habit they will have to painstakingly inculcate for the survival of the government is at stake.

Indian democracy is once again coming alive and set to regain its vibrancy; all because we have a strong and united opposition which can call a spade a spade for it has formidable numbers which can no longer be ignored.