By

B.N.Gururaj, Advocate

The crises faced by the BJP is manifold, as the plural term ‘crises’ indicates. Its leaders have lost credibility and control, and are no longer respected, not even for their past achievements. The leadership is not even given the basic courtesies due to them by the party colleagues. To approximately quote a Kannada proverb, BJP has become a broom whose tie has been loosened.

At this stage, whom does BJP turn to for help and guidance? Predictably, the RSS. Unfortunately, the RSS has carefully kept itself outside the electoral heat and dust. Its workers no doubt participated in electoral campaigning in the past. At least as far as the public knowledge goes, RSS has no more experience in the electoral politics and parliamentary democracy beyond this.

The crises faced by the BJP is very complex. It commences with the immediate cause of electoral failure. But, in the immediate past, there have been many causes for this culminating failure both inside and outside the Parliament. The immediate reaction to demands for discussion and dissent within the party has been one of closing the lid on a boiler without any safety valve.

At this juncture, leaders of RSS who hardly have exposure to the Parliament, inter-party relationships and electoral politics are making decisions for BJP – RSS is deciding who will exist from leadership position, who will step into the shoes of leaders, how the ideological face of the party should change. The leaders of RSS who are advising BJP leaders are far younger (in these organizations which are known for their Gerontocracy) and definitely far less experienced. One can hardly expect Mohan Bhagwat with no direct exposure to politics to tender useful advise to Advani, who is far more experienced and mature. If leaders like Advani and Rajnath Singh are lame ducks, the RSS leaders leading them are blind. It is a case of the blind leading the lame, both destined to meet their doom. Or worse, to quote Katha and Mundaka Upnishads, blind leading the blind, andhenaiva neeyamana yathandah!.

What the two organization are unable to realize is that the present spate of dissent and rebellion is not going to be cured by cosmetic changes at the top. The two organizations are at cross roads. They must, more importantly, decide what should be their relationship in future – that of parent and child, or two equals, or two distinct organizations trading their own chosen paths.

One thing is clear BJP leadership, those exiting and those entering are unable to handle the role of being Hindu protagonist. Last two elections have shown that the BJP is no longer able to handle the baggage of Ram Janmabhumi and the issue of attacks on Hindu society, having admitted muslims in its rank. It cannot even freely discuss the Hindu concerns anymore in the party’s official forum.

It seems that time has come for BJP to shed its baggage of being Hindu protagonist and become a political party like any other in the country. Having experienced corruption within its ranks, “operation Kamala” and the like, BJP can be a fair match for Amar Singh and his ilk when push comes to shove.

It is necessary that the pro-Hindu elements must exit from the BJP and form separate political party, not with a view to capture political power, but to become a large enough pressure group to prevail on any ruling Government to ensure that Hindu interests are protected. Otherwise, the conflict between pro-Hindu elements, and liberal elements like ABV and JS will continue to debilitate BJP. It is time for these elements to part company.