2009/6/22 lukhman_khan <[email protected]> > What does one make of the BJP attempting to put Band-aid on its > hindutva-RSS cancer? (my POV) > > Are the educated class so foolish to be taken on yet another ride? > > Or will it boomerang by BJP losing even its hard core hindu votes too, now > that they are wooing muslims who still wont vote for them, come what may.
I don't think the BJP lost because of the "hindutva-RSS cancer", but rather due to bad campaign and worse candidates. The more educated and liberal voters (usually in urban centres) don't make or break elections in India. It is them who might not vote for the BJP because of the hindutva-RSS association. As for the rest (around 80%), they have more important things to worry about and if a hardline Hindu nationalist party will assuage them, they will give it their vote. It is surprising that many think that the Congress victory is a mandate against hardline Hinduism (and therefore the BJP). Congress ran a more grassroots campaign, better candidates, and overall was the party the masses could identify with. What is sad (at least for me) is that because of the problems with/in the BJP (and if it sinks like many predict), India is deprived of a good Right-wing party. Given our rabid socialist tendencies (and history), good right wing politics would bring much needed balance. However, I'm glad Manmohan is the PM now rather than Advani. Kiran
