New Delhi: As the BJP gets ready for the big fight in 2024, the Sangh Parivar, particularly the RSS and the VHP, have begun mobilising their forces to play the (Ram) “Mandir” card to secure a mandate.
The VHP is likely to to initiate a campaign to light at least five diyas (earthen lamps) in each household during Diwali. These will be dedicated to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The saffron outfits are also expected to organise a door-to-door campaign to invite people for visit the Ram Mandir after the “pran pratishtha” (consecration ceremony) due to be held on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the consecration ceremony.
The Prime Minister, speaking at an event on Tuesday, said: “There are only a few months left for Lord Ram to reside in the Ram temple. Lord Ram is just about to arrive.”
Regardless of the propaganda blitz on development, the BJP is going to “rely heavily” on the Ram Mandir’s inauguration to consolidate its core votebank. The doors of the temple “will be thrown open to the public so that the elections are held under the saffron hue,” a party leader said.
According to him, “more than anything, the temple talk will dominate the general election”.
For the BJP’s spin doctors, the Hindu consolidation under the Ram Mandir would also counter the caste census card being played by the Opposition. It was felt that the Ram Mandir issue will find resonance in the Hindi heartland, with 226 Lok Sabha seats. It may be recalled that the BJP’s vote share in the Hindi heartland was a massive 44 per cent.
The party leaders indicated that voting trend in the coming Assembly elections in the Hindi heartland could be regarded as the “semi-final for 2024 elections”.
The party has rolled out all the emotive issues, ranging from Hindutva, women’s empowerment, women’s reservation bill, welfare for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, as well as two other states.
For the Opposition grand alliance “INDIA”, strategic seat-sharing could emerge as a major hurdle. At this juncture the BJP seems to be way ahead of the Opposition in Uttar Pradesh, with 80 Lok Sabha seats. Besides the Narendra Modi factor, what is working for the BJP in UP is also the “popularity” of chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
