This article analyzes the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) electoral supremacy in India under the leadership of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. The BJP's strategy is described as two-pronged: dismantling caste-based regional alliances and building strong grassroots connections.
In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP consolidated its power by attracting non-Yadav OBCs and non-Jatav Dalits, marginalizing the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). In Bihar, strategic alliances and local caste adjustments led to victories, breaking the Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) hold.
The BJP's significant growth in West Bengal (from 17% to over 40% vote share between 2014 and 2019) showcases its ability to penetrate strongholds of regional parties. A similar pattern is seen in Odisha, where welfare schemes and infrastructure investments played a role in securing victories.
While facing greater resistance, the BJP has made strides in the South. Karnataka remains a stronghold, while gains in Telangana utilize anti-incumbency sentiments and welfare promises. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP focuses on Tamil pride and heritage and formed alliances to build its presence.
The BJP's partnership with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is highlighted as crucial to its success in the West. In Maharashtra, the RSS facilitated numerous meetings before recent elections, contributing to victories in areas such as Pune and Nagpur. The RSS also helped galvanize rural voters in Haryana.
In the North, the BJP cemented its dominance by dismantling caste-based regional alliances. In Uttar Pradesh, constituencies like Phulpur, once symbols of Congress-era politics, now reflect the BJP’s consolidation of non-Yadav OBCs and non-Jatav Dalits.
Its strategic marginalisation of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has redefined caste dynamics, securing a loyal voter base. In Bihar, alliances with the Janata Dal (United) and hyper-local caste recalibrations have delivered victories in constituencies such as Gopalganj, breaking the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD's) longstanding grip.
In the East, the BJP’s surge in West Bengal, where its vote share jumped from 17 percent in 2014 to over 40 percent in 2019, highlights its ability to disrupt entrenched regional parties. Constituencies like Madarihat illustrate its success in blending Hindutva rhetoric with economic promises to appeal to both urban middle classes and rural labourers, particularly in tea gardens. Similarly, in Odisha, victories in constituencies like Dhamnagar underscore how welfare schemes and infrastructure commitments resonate with economically vulnerable voters.
In the South, the BJP faces more resistance but has made calculated inroads. Karnataka remains its stronghold, with constituencies like Bengaluru South showcasing its urban appeal. In Telangana, constituencies such as Munugode highlight its growing clout, fueled by anti-incumbency against the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and welfare promises. In Tamil Nadu, where Dravidian politics dominates, the BJP’s focus on Tamil pride and heritage, coupled with alliances like that with the AIADMK, reflect a slow but deliberate strategy to establish itself.
In the West, the BJP has leveraged its partnership with the RSS to deepen grassroots connections. In Maharashtra, over 60,000 RSS-facilitated meetings ahead of recent elections secured strongholds like Pune and Nagpur, demonstrating the party’s unmatched organisational depth. In Haryana, the BJP’s victories in constituencies like Adampur highlight the RSS’s ability to galvanise rural voters.
Skip the extension — just come straight here.
We’ve built a fast, permanent tool you can bookmark and use anytime.
Go To Paywall Unblock Tool