From being a party restricted to Northern and Northwestern India, BJP has come a long way. It is now the biggest national political party in India. Yet, it is often taunted by its detractors for failing to ramp up its presence in South India.
BJP faces serious pushback from language chauvinists in South Indian states. There has been a systematic fear-mongering about the baseless allegations of Hindi imposition, which seems to keep the party on the sidelines. With the exception of Karnataka, BJP either enjoys negligible presence or plays second fiddle to regional parties at the most. But it is done playing a secondary role and now, the BJP wants to start the process from Puducherry.
As per News18, BJP is looking to become the main political power in the Union Territory of Puducherry, as against playing a mere coalition partner to the All India NR Congress (AINRC) party.
Puducherry recently went to the polls where BJP won six seats and its regional ally won nine seats. However, BJP has increased its tally with three nominations. So, the BJP now has 9 MLAs and AINRC continues to have 10 MLAs in what has now become a 33-member Assembly.
The implications are clear- BJP is now just one short of the AINRC in Puducherry. AINRC’s N Rangaswamy remains the Puducherry Chief Minister, but the BJP hardly seems like the junior partner in the coalition government.
Also, BJP claims that it has the support of three independent MLAs in the Union Territory. On the other hand, AINRC claims that all independent lawmakers are backing it, except the one who defeated Rangaswamy in one of the two constituencies from where he contested. AINRC is claiming the support of five independent lawmakers.
These independent MLAs will decide as to how far BJP will be able to succeed in shedding the role of a secondary player and eyeing the CM chair as a psychological boost for its cadres in South Indian states. If three MLAs actually support the BJP and two others choose AINRC, then the two parties would stand even at 12 lawmakers each.
The Puducherry Assembly is one such segment in South India where the BJP would be hopeful of spreading its foothold. A keen political situation is building up in Puducherry, with both the parties in the ruling coalition trying to grab the pole position.
Yet, the BJP is likely to improve its relationship with the AINRC in near future, especially because DMK and Congress would be ready to exploit any faulting in the ruling coalition and entice N Rangaswamy into a new alliance with the DMK and Congress. For now, BJP can contend with a Deputy CM post and mobilise its cadres for elevating the party to a bigger role in the future.
However, one thing is clear- BJP’s political activism in Puducherry could be its attempt at gaining Chief Ministership in the Union Territory. And this also announces the party’s new South India strategy. The party is not going to take half-measures from here on. It will eye the lead role instead of playing second fiddle and focussing on junior role in the regional alliances.
