'Tip of iceberg': RSS-linked weekly blames tie-up with Ajit Pawar-led NCP for BJP's Maharashtra woes

A Marathi weekly affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attributed the BJP's mediocre performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections to its alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, claiming the partnership caused a significant backlash among the BJP's supporters.

According to the publication, many BJP members and associates disapproved of the alliance, which led to a decline in public sentiment towards the party, reducing its seat count in Maharashtra from 23 to nine.

The periodical noted that internal unrest among the party cadres was widespread. It also suggested that effective coordination and the engagement of party workers in decision-making had contributed to the BJP's strong performance in Madhya Pradesh, where it won all 29 Lok Sabha seats.

"The unrest among the party cadre because the BJP allied with the NCP is the tip of the iceberg," the article said.

The saffron party 's recent alliance with Shiv Sena , led by Eknath Shinde, was viewed as more natural due to shared Hindutva ideologies. Shinde's rebellion against former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray was largely accepted, and the BJP's support helped Shinde become the state chief minister. Subsequently, Ajit Pawar's claim to support from NCP MLAs was upheld by the Election Commission of India and the legislative assembly speaker, leading to his appointment as deputy chief minister.

However, the public's reaction to BJP's collaboration with NCP was overwhelmingly negative. The article questioned the future strategy of the BJP, considering the political changes triggered by the NCP alliance . "However, the sentiments went totally against the party (BJP) after it joined hands with NCP. The question also arises about the future plans of the party when political arithmetic went against it because of NCP," it added.

The weekly criticized the BJP for prioritizing defectors from other parties over nurturing its own leaders. It highlighted the historical success of leaders who had risen through the party's ranks, such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Gopinath Munde, Pramod Mahajan, Nitin Gadkari, and Devendra Fadnavis, all of whom began as humble party workers.

The action of some people against those who propagate Hindutva on social media also increased the unrest among the party workers. The workers also started wondering whether their opinions have any value within the party or not," the article said.

The weekly also noted that the sacrifices made during the Emergency and for the Ram temple movement do not resonate as strongly with the younger, educated demographic. "There is no doubt about the sacrifice of party workers during the Emergency period as well as for the Ram temple movement. How much does it resonate with educated people under the age of 45 when it comes to voting? Even if the person is pro-Hindutva, he would not feel any connection with the incidents that took place three to four decades back," the article said.

The publication commended the BJP's strategy in Madhya Pradesh, attributing their success to effective coordination and giving importance to party workers in governance. "Coordination and the importance given to party workers in decision-making and governance helped the BJP sweep the Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh," it emphasized.

Previously, the RSS-linked magazine 'Organiser' issued a post-election analysis stating that the BJP's electoral setbacks were a "reality check for overconfident" workers and leaders. The magazine observed that many were complacent, relying on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's influence rather than engaging with grassroots voices. "Though the RSS is not a 'field force' for the BJP, the party leaders and workers did not reach out to its 'swayamsevaks' (volunteers) seeking their cooperation in electoral work," an article in the 'Organiser' magazine noted.