Pulwama Fallout: BJP’s Electoral Standing

Infuriating Modi era draws to close with fewer accomplishment through a bilateral agreement with the US to cooperate in the civil nuclear energy sector, however, since coming into power his deceitful economic policy weighs downed India domestically and upsurge ethnic animosities through its conventional strategy of “chauvinist Hindutva politics.

In amidst of daunting domestic socio-economic challenges and escalated regional hostility of Pulwama fallout, general elections in India are scheduled to be held from 11 April 2019. ”Close but no cigar-while ameliorating domestic political mileage prior to elections through Balakotintrusionin the aftermaths of Pulwama incident witnessed befitting retaliation and proficient diplomatic response by Pakistan left Modi red-faced in front of the entire world.

The overt backfiring of wild and woollymaster stoke sprig into diplomatic crisis and domestic political split at a very crucial stage before Lok Sabah voting. Earlier, after being dethroned by Congress in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan in provincial elections 2018, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seemingly out on a limb as its political image trashed drastically whilst providing opportunities to contending political rivals to cash its embezzlement pitfalls in election campaigns.

Noticeably Congress at the front lashed out against Modi administration for misadventure embarrassments and also held perpetrator by other political parties forPulwamabloodshed – designed to notch political interests. China’s recent move of blocking bid of banningJaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Masood Azharfurther triggered political anguish and ruling party once again under fire for not playing with full deck at diplomatic fronts to convince Beijing not to exercise the veto power.

Pakistan going down to brass tacks-its strategic-policy initiatives vis-à-visIndia to some extent undercut the hardline political stature of BJP, primarily moored with Hindutva nationalism. The swift retribution queered the pitch of “Balakotdrop scene”followed by rapprochement and reconciliation measures to de-escalate bilateral hostility- releasing Indian pilot for gesturing peace, offering evidence-based bends over backward on Pulwama incident and vowing to device inward dialectical ratification through banning and mainstreaming the extremist right wings partially undermined Indian accusations of sponsoring terrorism and restored its image of peace-promoting state in geopolitical arena.

Likewise, Islamabad’s earlier pronouncement of opening Kartapur corridor and despite the recent vitiated situation, the continuation of bilateral dialogue appraisal for ensuring religious liberty hailed by the entire Sikh community and proponents of perpetual peace.

Modi’s strategic belligerence and political assertion may ensue colossal blow to the political future of BJP in Kashmir. CitingPulwama incident as a pretext banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) for five years and sporadically vowed to bring an ordinance for removal of constitutional article 35A to suppress the political rights of Kashmiri people. It is pertinent to highlight that the clouds of embroiling turmoil and intensifying violence kept hovering the valley and it remained on boil during the entire Modi rule despite having a collation with PDP for three years. Amid of recent crisis, India attended the Ministerial meeting of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC’s) as a guest of honour but Pakistan boycotted the session to register its protest due to the invitation extended to India.

However, at this forum, India faced yet another embarrassment when the OIC condemned India’s violation of the Line of Control (LoC) between the two countries. The statement issued by the OIC states that “meeting reaffirms its support to the innocent Kashmiris and also strongly condemned Indian action against its founding member state and a recent wave of repression, brutal killings of innocent civilians by the by Armed Forces in occupied territory.

Over the years under BJP’s rule, credibility and rationality of the Indian media industry considerably reduced due to it’s overriding political and cooperate influence. Thus, during the recent crisis, irrespective of real facts and pretence of objectivity, propagation of ultra-nationalist narrative push two states on the brink of war. Media kept baying for blood through spreading misinformation and war hysteria to draw favourable environment ahead of polls for a ruling party.

Economically, in the financial year 2018-19, India hit a soft patch and its GDP growth witnessed a drastic decline from 8.2% to 6.6 % in the fourth quarter recorded in the month of December. Notably, during the Modi era, the surge in debt has been propelled by 51.7% growth in public debt from 48 lakh crore to 73 lakh crore. In addition, deceitful promises of resolving massive agrarian distress and creation of 20 million employment opportunities for fresh Indian youth voters going to hunt BJP.

As a consequence of Modi’s domestic failures and foreign policy embezzlements, BJP’s political standings witnessed dwindling ahead of general polls. The intervening factors- rising populism, secessionists movements, ethnic and religious fragmentations, revamping choices of voters by multifaceted constraints and challenges posed by globalization would contribute in the electoral process. However, it is clearly evident that BJP has nothing much to offer the general masses because it is weaker than ever before and it would be an uphill task to regain the prior electoral power.