Re-emergent BJP poses significant threat to India's regional political parties, according to Sunil Gatade
In a series of recent Assembly polls, the BJP has secured impressive victories, marking a significant shift in power dynamics across India. The coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra was defeated, while the BJP also emerged victorious in Haryana. The party's latest triumph in Delhi has further solidified its position, leaving regional parties grappling with the consequences.
The defeat of Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi may cast a dark shadow over the AAP-ruled Punjab. The disarray in the Opposition camp is not a good sign, and the anti-BJP forces must realize the importance of unity, as Benjamin Franklin once said, "We must all hang together, or we will all hang separately."
The BJP's victory after a hard-fought battle has put them in a strong position, making other parties pause and reflect on their strategies. The leadership of many regional parties in India has not been earned through hard work, but is based on family legacy. Leaders such as M.K. Stalin in Tamil Nadu, Omar Abdullah in J&K, Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sukhbir Singh Badal, H.D. Kumarswamy, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, Mehbooba Mufti, Chirag Paswan, Hemant Soren, Ajit Pawar, and Jayant Chaudhary have all gained or are currently enjoying power due to family dynasty.
Regional parties in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam currently facing difficult situations and needing to be extra cautious in the upcoming state elections include the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in West Bengal, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) in Kerala, and regional parties in Assam like Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). These parties face challenges from national parties and internal dynamics that require careful electoral strategies.
The BJP under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah can easily marginalize these regional parties by either allying with them or confronting them. Not a single regional party is in good shape, and they have not learned much from the BJP's rise to power. The BJP's next target will likely be the beleaguered regional parties plagued by internal conflicts.
In poll-bound Bihar, neither the JD(U) nor any other NDA allies can afford to remain silent. The Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav also has numerous family members who are MPs or MLAs, some of whom are his advisers. Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar also has family members in political positions.
The BJP's victory in Delhi has made it a challenge for regional parties to survive. Assembly polls are due next year in five states: Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Assam. None of these states have pro-incumbency. The defeat of Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP is a wake-up call for regional parties aspiring to play a role in national politics. They must adapt, evolve, and learn from their mistakes to remain relevant in the political landscape.
