Once PM Narendra Modi remarked that his political acumen should never be under suspicion. And by playing masterstrokes one after another, the party has sealed his point.
The Bhartiya Janata Party excels at giving surprises, and the same trait was visible yesterday when NDA announced its vice-presidential candidate. Cancelling all the speculations, BJP this time has picked West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar as its vice-presidential nominee. While political pundits are busy analysing the choice and are revolving around the Banerjee-Dhankar issue, here we decode the card played by the Bhartiya Janata Party.
NDA announces its vice-presidential pick
The Bhartiya Janata Party has been quite effective in making strong political messaging. With the Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, an Adivasi woman, and now VP candidate as West Bengal Dhankar, the NDA is walking onto the path proposed by PM Modi; the inclusion of all.
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PM Modi has hailed the nomination of West Bengal governor for his nomination as the VP candidate of the NDA. PM Modi made his mention by calling him ‘Kisan Putra’ and told that he is known for his humility. PM Modi further added that as Dhankar brings with him an illustrious legal and legislative career, “he will be outstanding at the Rajya Sabha chair.”
It was speculated that the BJP would choose someone from the minority community. However, sidelining all speculations, the party chose a leader who had worked for the well-being of farmers, youth, women and the marginalised; in the words of PM Modi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “The manner in which Dhankar ji, the son of a farmer from Rajasthan, has reached here today after facing many economic and social challenges, is inspiring for all. I am sure that as the Vice-President and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Dhankar ji will increase the dignity of the Upper House.”
The words which need special focus here are, “veerbhumi Rajasthan”, “KisanPutra” among others, as the use of these prominent words sheds on the political messaging attempted by the BJP led NDA.
BJP aims at multiple targets with Dhankar
As mentioned above, the saffron party has attempted another political masterstroke by picking Dhankar as the vice-presidential candidate. Dhankar was born in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, and later enrolled as an advocate in the Rajasthan Bar Council.
The step is also seen as a reward to the Jats of Uttar Pradesh who rendered unequivocal support to the BJP in the assembly elections. This has been seen as an attempt to woe the Jat voters of both the state; Haryana and Rajasthan, when assembly elections are due for 2024 and 2023 respectively.
Hailing from Rajasthan, Dhankar is the second politician from the Shekhwati region, there lies probability that Dhankar might supplement the support that Vasundhra Raje enjoys among the single-most numerically strong caste that is Jats. As Jats make upto 10 percent of the state’s population. Adding to that, with Dhankar’s win, for the first time, the presiding officers in both the houses will be from Rajasthan.
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In Haryana, it could help cater to the Chautala faction in the state, as the party had faced resentment following the appointment of Manohar Lal Khattar, a Punjabi as the CM.Dhankar had served as the a minister under Haryana’s Jat leader Chaudhary Devi Lal, which makes him a known face in Harayana.
Hard time for TMC ahead
Dhankar began his political career in 1989, he contested and won in his birth place Jhunjhunu on a Janata Dal ticket. He served as a union minister and remained a part of the Rajasthan Assembly as well. He later made inroads to the BJP in 2003.
Jagdeep Dhankar has been ruthless when it comes to exposing the misdeeds of the Mamata Banerjee government. He has taken a tough stance in the matters related to political violence, corruption, minority appeasement among others. His confrontations with the TMC government is what gained him attention.
The Trinamool Congress is known for creating ruckus, not only on the streets, but also in the Parliament. With Dhankar at the chair, it is going to be tough for the TMC parliamentarians to carry on with their indiscipline in the house.
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