BJP’s Northeast Wins Show How Ideologically Flexible It Can Be

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam

“All is fair in love and war. But at an ideological level, it’s important to understand how flexible the BJP can be in securing the big wins that it does,” noted The Quint’s Editorial Director Sanjay Pugalia, in the wake of recent election results in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

While analysing the electoral outcome in these three states, Pugalia feels it’s important to keep an eye on the BJP’s ideological flexibility.

‘Qualitative’ Tripura Win to Save BJP’s Falling Trendline?

The win in Tripura, where the BJP upped its tally to 43 from zero in 2013, is a qualitative one as opposed to a quantitative one, explains Pugalia. The fact that the BJP has invaded Tripura’s ‘Red Fort’ and defeated its ideological enemy – the Left – is a major victory for BJP cadres.

The Tripura win has given the BJP an opportunity to shift the narrative from its losses in a clutch of bypolls and a close-shave contest in Gujarat to a successful exploration of unchartered territories.

Additionally, having expanded its footprint in Tripura and possibly in Nagaland, the BJP can now sell itself as a pan-India party.

Bengal a Difficult Game for the BJP?

But if BJP President Amit Shah is to be believed, his party has still not reached the ‘golden age.’ Following election results, Shah told mediapersons that the party will enter its golden age only after it overthrows governments in Karnataka, West Bengal, Kerala and Odisha.

Throwing up a challenge to second-time Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bengal might be difficult, feels Pugalia. Here, the BJP could push the CPI(M) down and become the principal Opposition itself.

The BJP may lose seats in states where it’s already peaking. Hence, the Northeast, West Bengal and Odisha are important for 2019 General Elections.

In conclusion, Pugalia maintains that elections are like a five-day match, where one wins one day and loses the other.