If Yogi Adityanath were to contest elections from Mathura, then what does it translate as for the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), as it contests the criticisms against it for Covid-19 mismanagement?
The first and second waves of the Coronavirus claimed many innocent and precious lives. The common and ordinary person was starving for basic medical facilities, from oxygen to beds, with the incumbent clueless.
The BJP, which appears to be slightly ahead than Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP), knows that for applying a balm on the wounds of those affected, betting on Hindutva sounds like an ideal option, and occasion to connect with the masses.
Apart from interrogating and reinventing its positions on issues of national and cultural consciousness, the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and the Kashi Vishwanath dham in Varanasi, offers it a decisive edge in taking the fight to the opposition.
Though, the SP is trying hard to influence public opinion on education, healthcare, law and order, employment as well as other issues, much will depend on their response before the Uttar Pradesh (UP) assembly elections kickstart in the state.
I believe that Yadav should be recognised and rewarded for taking the fight to the toiling masses. On the other end, apathy and indifference is meted out to the masses by the ruling regime.
The ruling party would rather focus on rewriting fantasies and myths: from changing the names of places and monuments, to virasat (heritage) and vikas (development), the party is confidently about tasting victory.
They will conquer it anyhow, by being thoroughly unfair to the rules of the game.
From conducting raids on Piyush Jain and Pampi Jain’s businesses, to taking on Yadav’s khaasam khaas (confidants or special allies) in the state, the BJP has signaled its seriousness in winning a second term for Yogi in UP.
The BJP has ensured its grip on reviving and resurrecting a political sign and symbol institutionalising faith, belief and practices. This will electorally benefit current chief minister Yogi’s prospects.
Yogi is swinging in action to represent Mathura. He might win riding on the passions and persuasions of Krishna devotees, wishing for a magnificent temple to be restored, as his pride and legacy.
Is it enough if parties like the SP, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress, caution people against getting exploited?
Will the charge of distinguishing between Hindutva and Hinduism limit their appeal in front on an audience, which is is expecting a little more? They are competing with the administrative apparatus and machinery of a party, notorious for its electioneering strategies?