It seems the Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states are beginning to model their policies on those of UP CM Yogi Adityanath. This is despite the fact that the electoral mandates provided by the voters across the nation have been for Prime Minister Modi’s governance approach that remains rooted in the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ philosophy. While one CM threatens the death penalty for coerced religious conversion, though modifying it somewhat later, another’s legislative initiative to bring uniformity in civil laws is widely believed to be mostly targeted at one community. A third seeks demolition of Aurangzeb’s grave to satisfy popular sentiment.
Going further down the ranks, ministers, MPs, MLAs too are voicing even more extreme sentiments. It is obvious that the Yogi model of governance has impressed them to a great extent, despite the fact that UP failed to deliver the majority of seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Perhaps, it is a strategy to heat up sentiments for the crucial upcoming UP assembly elections. Or it may be that these headline-catching pronouncements are designed to cover up failings in governance in these respective states, for certainly the system does not seem to be delivering as required. Caste-based politics is at its peak, even as differences within the party owing to personal ambitions are not being overcome. Perhaps the fact that Yogi Adityanath is the unquestioned leader in his state party unit has inspired others to take this route.
Is this approach likely to work? The UP CM’s approach is singularly his own and calibrated carefully to deal with that state’s particular situation. Unthinking imitation could backfire as, without an inherent and cohesive political philosophy, the benefits will be short-lived. It is possible that meeting the people’s aspirations for a better life is proving a difficult task, but creating smokescreens will not deliver the required results. The BJP, with its hold over a large number of states, is in a unique position to dig itself in for a long period of time, particularly as there continues a weak opposition at the national level, but this can only be done with a long-term development perspective. There is an expiry date to every populist and divisive tactic. Considering that most of these CMs belong to the ‘next’ generation of BJP leaders, they should think of longer lasting strategies. Otherwise, there will be no one available to fill PM Modi’s boots when the time comes.
