The Congress has performed disastrously in recent elections. All talk and no substance have made Rahul Gandhi a loser boy. In contrast, the BJP has walked the talk on its promises to the people and been elected back to power with thumping majorities, most recently in the Maharashtra elections.
Even in states where the majority has not been clear, the BJP has been able to garner the largest share of the electorate’s confidence. In Jharkhand, the BJP retained 33.9 per cent of the votes, while the combined share of the JMM and Congress was 39.2 per cent. It is apparent that years of Congress misrule and empty promises—hawa mein baatein, as it’s said in Hindi— have rendered the party a toothless tiger in the polls.
Viksit Bharat or Fixit Bharat
During 60 years of Congress rule, the aspirations of a large section of people remained untouched. Those aspirations are getting addressed by the BJP. Wherever they’ve been voted into power, they have utilised that time to serve the country, to serve the people, to serve the masses. Roads are being built, ports are being constructed, and infrastructure development is flourishing.
The year-end review of 2023 shows that the National Highway Network has increased by 60 per cent, from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1,46,145 km in 2023. Rail connectivity has also grown. In the last 10 years, 31,000 km of railway track—the equivalent of Germany’s entire network—has been added. In addition, 44,000 km of track has been electrified under 10 years of BJP rule, compared to a total of 60,000 km in 60 years under Congress. The Vande Bharat Trains are connecting obscure towns with larger cities. The biggest Vande Bharat achievement is the sleeper train set to launch in January 2025, which will connect the national capital to the winter wonderland of Srinagar.
Power availability in rural areas has increased from 12 hours in 2015 to 20.6 hours in December 2023. The all-India peak shortage has been reduced, and overall power generation has been increased to meet the demands of the burgeoning economy.
The BJP has not wasted the opportunity given to them by the people. Under the dynamic duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP has infused party workers with enthusiasm, and thus the whole team is driven to work day and night. This work ethos has seeped down to the bureaucrats and ministers alike. We can safely say that the sun never sets on the BJP, and the sons and daughters of Ma Bharti are driven to work round the clock. The ‘fix the wrongs and let it be’ or ‘ignore it’ culture has been shown the door.
India as a world power
The aspirations of the common Indian are being met. I sat in an autorickshaw recently in my erstwhile constituency and the driver couldn’t stop extolling the virtues of the BJP leadership. He said he could have never imagined that India would achieve the international status that it has today as a peacemaker and world leader.
While Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru enjoyed hobnobbing with the white man and pursuing Western hobbies, it is only Narendra Modi and team who have shared centre stage with world leaders such as Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and even Xi Jinping.
India’s GDP rank is expected to reach 5th place in 2024, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting GDP growth around 7 per cent. India’s economy has gone from the fragile 5 to making it to the top 5. This has given aspirational India hope that we could even reach 3rd place. The present government is not selling dreams, but delivering on its promises. It’s turning dreams into reality. This is where the difference lies between erstwhile governments and this one. The Congress has lost the financial capital of India due to their divisive politics.
Promise makers or breakers?
In Himachal Pradesh, led by veteran Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Congress promised to give Rs 1,500 to every woman above 18, but they haven’t delivered. They promised 300 units of free power but reversed the BJP’s scheme of 125 free units and even levied a cess on electricity consumption. Promises to start mobile medical clinics and allocate Rs 680 crore to fund apple-growing startups remain empty promises.
In Telangana, the Mahalaxmi scheme was supposed to provide Rs 2,500 to women, but instead it seems the state is being used as an ATM by the Congress to fund elections elsewhere.
In Karnataka, the state government is now talking about “revisiting” the free bus travel scheme for women because of drying coffers.
There is a greater sense of credibility with Modi Sarkar because it is delivering on promises—not raising false hopes and then dashing them later.
The Congress has often promised freebies, or revadi, to buy votes. We tend to underestimate the chutzpah of the average voter. They are no longer fooled by empty talk selling pipe dreams. In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress-led government has emptied the coffers with empty promises to pensioners, while there’s no money to pay the salaries of current officers.
In Karnataka, 18 months of Congress rule has allegedly skyrocketed the state’s debt to Rs 82,000 crore. The BJP doesn’t make false promises that they can’t keep. They will promise less, and end up giving more.
Reaching the unreached
Per recent statistics, the BJP has returned to power for the third time in six states. Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Assam are among the states that have placed their trust in the BJP’s governance, voting them back into power for the third consecutive term. This shows that the people are satisfied with the work the BJP has done and the progress these states have made under their respective governments.
The BJP has an equation with the people and understands the problems they face, even in states like Assam, where there is a large minority community. In Assam’s Congress-stronghold Samaguri Assembly constituency, where Muslims constitute around 65 per cent of the vote, the Congress candidate was defeated by the BJP. This signifies that the BJP’s outreach and development policies are working in this strategic border state.
Gujarat has been a BJP stronghold for the last seven assembly elections and shows no sign of relinquishing the saffron flag.
Women who vote
Women are steadily and consistently voting for the BJP. You can’t lead a country by neglecting 50 per cent of the electorate. Women are crossing barriers of caste, creed, religion, and economics to vote for the BJP. Chapter 10 of the BJP’s manifesto pledges “legal and policy level initiatives to remove discrimination against women”.
The abolition of triple talaq for Muslim women, the LPG scheme, and conversations on toilets and menstruation have given women the sense of comfort that the BJP has their back. The Reservation for Women in Parliament Bill has also been pushed by the BJP.
The BJP has been advocating for equal legal and political rights for women, as well as healthcare—all of which were previously neglected. Under 10 years of BJP governance, the skewed sex ratio has been corrected. Exit polls conducted by Axis-My India showed that women voters in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan preferred the BJP over Congress. The narrative is changing to women-led development and increasing the participation of women in all decisions. This large vote bank, ignored under Congress, is now a driving force.
My neighbour’s grand-aunt recently mentioned that they were always told to vote for the Congress by the male members of their family. But now, they want to vote for Modi Sarkar, baar baar, because they now feel like partners in the power-sharing under Modi governance, not followers of patriarchy.
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Beyond caste and dynasty
The BJP is transcending the outdated caste divide to garner votes across all demographics. Beating the divisive caste drum has been the Congress’ forte, and they have been clamouring for a caste census in states under the misconception that it will sway votes in their favour.
In 2021, Priyanka Vadra implored voters in Uttar Pradesh, “Don’t vote on the basis of caste and religion.” Yet, in November 2024, she was challenging PM Modi to commit to a caste census and accusing the BJP of standing in the way of caste-based reservations.
The people of Viksit Bharat want to leave behind the rhetoric of caste and focus on employment, opportunities, and development. They don’t want to take a backward step into divisive caste politics—jaati and biradari are looked at during times of marriage, not when shaping the narrative around employment and economic progress.
The Family No 1 has all its adult members in Parliament. Why are they leaving the fourth one out? Having four family members in the Parliament will not take away the bitter taste of electoral defeat. India is not a monarchy where a member of the First Family inherits the political throne. The people of India want peace and prosperity not papaji ki jaagir. And this has been exposed in the recent elections in Maharashtra.
Last but not the least, a lot has changed since 4 June 2024. The vote percentage has increased from around 61 per cent to 65 per cent. This statistic indicates a consolidation of traditional BJP votes and the silent majority, who have stepped out in support of the BJP. They have clearly made up their minds in favour of “Vikas bhi aur Virasat bhi”—development aligned with cultural nationalism.
Meenakashi Lekhi is a BJP leader, lawyer, and social activist. Her X handle is @M_Lekhi. Views are personal.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)