What impact will the Ram Temple inauguration have on Indian politics, and what next for the BJP? After the ceremony, thousands of BJP workers chanted ‘Jai Shree Ram’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to prioritize their nation over their spiritual beliefs, stating that it marked the beginning of a new era.
Modi has fulfilled two of the BJP’s three core issues in the last decade. These are the construction of the Ram Mandir and the revocation of Article 370, which dealt with the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the third, the Uniform Civil Code, is yet to be prioritized by the BJP as we come up to the 2024 elections. The Opposition apprehends that the BJP may target the Kashi and Mathura temples which are under dispute. Still, the party has not mentioned them in its manifesto.
The BJP will likely let the courts decide both issues. BJP chief J.P. Nadda has hinted as much. The consecration of the Ram Temple has generated a lot of excitement and is expected to continue until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. For the BJP, the inauguration marked the end of a long-standing and controversial religious conflict.
This development has strengthened the BJP’s Hindu-focused agenda and is seen as a reflection of transforming India into a more Hindu-centric nation. Unfortunately, this has resulted in minority communities having to abandon their struggle and facing further marginalization. It’s important to note that the BJP and the RSS consider India to be a predominantly Hindu nation despite the fact that over two hundred million Muslims and other minorities also live in the country.
The party’s majoritarian approach is reflected in its rhetoric of Ram Rajya, among other things. Mr. Modi plans to maintain the current joy and excitement, divided into three main areas: Hindutva, nationalism, and welfare. The party aims to achieve a uniform civil code, a $5 trillion economy, and population regulation in the future. The ultimate goal is to gain the support of the people and regain power after the 2024 elections.
The Prime Minister talked about the Ram Mandir’s political significance, which India successfully resolved. He reminded people that it was a moment of humility, not victory. The opposition parties were invited to the consecration, but they declined. They found themselves in a dilemma as they wanted to avoid appearing to support the ruling party. However, the fact that they had missed the event could serve as a wake-up call for them to rethink their approach and realign their strategy.
Mr Modi plans to keep his party popular with his deft combination of Hindu nationalism, welfare, and national interest. The BJP’s political platform blends religion and economics. The temple’s completion has strengthened the BJP’s position to advocate for Hindu causes. All of these indicate that the BJP intends to continue a majoritarian approach. The BJP has planned a ‘Ram Darshan Yatra’ across India to keep up the momentum of the Ram Temple.
The ‘Chalo Ayodhya’ campaign will be active from January 25 to March 25, with BJP MPs and MLAs leading the charge. They aim to take people to see the new Ram Lalla idol. Additionally, rallies are planned in Uttar Pradesh starting January 25 to promote the Ram Temple campaign further. The BJP aims to attract voters by appealing to their religious beliefs and to create a group of voters who identify with Hinduism as a defining feature.
The Opposition needs a new approach to counter the BJP’s campaign which promotes Mr Modi as a doer. Instead of criticising the Prime Minister, the Opposition should focus on bread-and-butter issues that matter to common people, like price rise and cost of living. Modi-bashing will not help. The Opposition coalition faces instability due to internal conflicts, adding to their worries.
Mamata Banerjee, the leader of Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, has declared that her party will contest in all constituencies in the state. She is willing to give only two seats to Congress, but the latter, still living on its glorious past, is not ready to accept this. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who formed a new coalition for the Opposition, is disenchanted and may join the N.D.A. again.
He wanted a top position in I.N.D.I.A but was not given it. He may switch sides instead, as he has done before. This marks the dismantling of the newly formed coalition. The current political scenario favours the BJP, making it challenging for the Opposition to defeat Mr. Modi. However, striving for a new approach requires unity among opposition parties, which seems complicated due to conflicting interests. The newly formed opposition coalition struggles to remain united, which adds to their challenges