Both the formidable organizational structure of his Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have grown incredibly since 2014. These two elements will play a significant role in today’s BJP’s attempt to win the Indian general election for the next time in a row.
While a lot of controversy has been generated regarding Modi’s nationalist authority and personality cult, the same is not true for the celebration organization that he and his near ally, Amit Shah, have founded over the past ten years. However, this has been vital to the celebration ’s political success. How?
I conducted interviews with dozens of BJP group members and leaders as part of my investigation into people of right-wing nationalist parties. They spoke with me under the state that their initials are used here only.
What I’ve found is the BJP’s grassroots organisation energy its supremacy at the ballot box in four key methods: 1 ) fighting; 2 ) propagation of Hindu nationalist philosophy; 3 ) implementation of happiness programs; and 4 ) group life.
A well-oiled plan equipment
The BJP has a plan machine unlike anything else available to it thanks to maintaining a large membership-based business.
Previous party leader and existing home affairs minister Shah, who used to be the party’s former leader, has run regular mass recruitment campaigns since 2014 to help the organization reach what is thought to be its largest in the world. It claims to have some 180 million people.
This business places its emphasis on the polling place. BJP community members are given a hall during election strategies to gather as much information about voters as possible before trying to persuade them to support the BJP.
S. a Marathi shampoo business owner who is active in the BJP’s women’s wing addressed me with the following about their fighting:
Ten women are in each hall, and each woman has 15 properties where they can spend three days [before the election ] roaming. They check who is there, if anyone has passed away. They check how voting may arise. They gather that information and check in with these individuals on election day because they have already known each other for a few days to see if they have cast ballots or are going to cast ballots.
No other social party, not even the Congress Party, which has dominated Indian politics for decades, may rely on this kind of small organization and huge membership. Essentially, the BJP is engaging in global micro-campaigning, which gives it a significant advantage in attracting voters.
Training people in Hindu patriotism
In contrast, the BJP is the American party with the most well-defined intellectual system, which combines sincere Hindu nationalism with right-wing democracy based on spiritual polarisation. The BJP can socialize and teach its members in this philosophy thanks to its grass organization.
My analysis of BJP group voters and members reveals how these people hold right-wing nationalist beliefs and worldviews that closely align with the party’s system.
These ideas are ingrained through an extensive teaching system in the case of community members.
J. , a doctor and BJP member from Surat ( Gujarat ), explained to me:
Once a year, for two to three days, there are experts in various disciplines who visit and train us. There are courses for a variety of items. The BJP’s story, its philosophy, and its efficiency.
S. , a retired college main, from the same town, said people are even taught “how to communicate with people – we may reach people’s hearts”.
This implies that BJP group members are adept at attracting new supporters based on the party’s intellectual program, which has been a key factor in its success over the past ten years.
Providing for the bad
Another factor in Modi’s popularity is that he is so popular, along with Hindu nationalism, and that includes the development of security to hundreds of millions of low-income people. He generally ensures that welfare programs ‘ names precede the word “prime secretary” on handouts and printed his face on them.
When it comes to security program execution, however, it is Republican party users who do the heavy lifting. In my interviews, party members ‘ major responsibilities included sweeping the pavements, distributing meal, and opening bank accounts for the underprivileged.
As P. , a young consultant from Vadodara ( Gujarat ), told me:
We go to the poor people whenever there is a state plan for them and inform them. We make an effort to bridge the gap between the populace and the state.
This was the event, for instance, of M. a Gujarati person who assisted in starting self-help organizations for women to “stand on their own two legs. ” ”
We teach them how to make candles, to create surgical pads, to make perfume pieces.
These initiatives are extremely well-liked among the American public. Additionally, information indicates that the BJP’s electorate was more likely to cast a ballot in the upcoming general election.
Party life is a concern
Eventually, the broad grassroots party organization gives the BJP a reliable source of candidates, elected officials, and party leaders.
Members reaffirmed that the BJP is normative when it comes to the distribution of office, in contrast to other parties. As N. , a Marathi auto store owner, explained:
Not just one home is the BJP’s dominant home. Normal personnel can be promoted to higher positions because they are treated equally by all employees.
In fact, according to my analysis of dynasticism among Indian political parties, only 17 % of the candidates for the BJP were from political families ( as opposed to 27 % for the Congress Party ).
The BJP remains a party where long-standing grassroots members can pursue a political career, despite some BJP members ‘ complaints that they were “parachuted ” in from other parties without having served their time.
Maintaining a sizable account even makes it easier for the BJP to survive over the long run. according to P. , the Gujarati expert mentioned above:
Now the BJP is ruling because we have full-time staff. One of the party’s biggest advantages is this. We have seen one Modi, but we have hundreds of Modis.
It will be difficult for the BJP to find a leader with such charisma and famous as Modi. But, unfortunately, the center of the celebration is its grassroots business. It is difficult to predict the BJP losing a public vote as long as the BJP develops this apparatus and its rivals refuse to construct comparable institutions.
Sofia Ammassari is Research Fellow, Griffith University
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