In its pursuit of political dominance ahead of the 2024 elections, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has been reaching out to regional parties and leaders to expand its presence in new territories. While party leaders justify these outreach efforts as necessary for growth, some second-rung members within the party are expressing concerns over a potential dilution of principles and a shrinking room for their own advancement.

The BJP's strategy includes forging alliances and splitting regional parties to make inroads into new territories. One notable example is the BJP's collaboration with the Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, which resulted in the split of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) by wooing its leaders, including Ajit Pawar. This move has significantly altered the political landscape in Maharashtra, solidifying the BJP's position in the state.

The party has also intensified its efforts in other states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh by collaborating with regional parties or their leaders. Party strategists argue that such measures are essential when a party finds it challenging to expand in regions that have traditionally been outside its reach or when it faces saturation in its strongholds.

Proponents of this expansion strategy point to the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological parent organization, which has consistently sought to extend its influence beyond the Hindutva ideology by embracing leaders from various backgrounds.

They also cite success stories like Himanta Biswa Sarma, who joined the BJP in 2015 and played a pivotal role in the party's growth in the Northeast as Assam's Chief Minister. Similarly, leaders like Brajesh Pathak and Jitin Prasada, who switched from other parties to join the BJP, serve as the party's prominent faces in Uttar Pradesh. In Telangana, former BRS leader Etela Rajender is expected to bolster the BJP's ambitions as the campaign committee chairman.

However, not all BJP members are pleased with these developments, especially second-rung leaders who have long been waiting for their turn. They feel uncertain about their positions and are uncomfortable justifying the induction of leaders facing corruption charges, many of which were instituted by BJP-led governments. These leaders express concerns about compromised principles, political appointments as a form of appeasement, and the resulting embarrassment they face.

Furthermore, they struggle to explain why the BJP's own governments increasingly adopt a welfares agenda, seemingly adopting practices they once criticized in the opposition.

As dissent grows within the party, some leaders lament that the BJP is gradually losing its distinctive identity and becoming just another party with internal divisions. They question the sidelining of loyal party members in favor of lateral entries into key positions within the government.

The disappointment among the cadre is compounded by the fact that the BJP, in its early years of power since 2014, focused heavily on building a robust organizational structure with new members and resources. However, with the recent developments, some party members wonder why those who have risen through the ranks are often overlooked for significant positions, both at the state and central levels.

As the BJP prepares for the 2024 elections, these internal concerns raise questions about the party's ability to strike a balance between expansion and maintaining its core principles. The party's success in managing these challenges will shape its trajectory in the coming years and determine its ability to retain its distinctiveness in Indian politics.

Images Credit - Financial Express