Opposition Leaders' Controversial Remarks Provide BJP with Fodder for Lok Sabha 2024 Elections

Seizing on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad’s jibe that he had no family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday coined what seemed like an election slogan: “Mera Bharat, Mera Parivar (India is my family)”. And, around the same time the BJP was trying to create a buzz around it with senior leaders and ministers adding “Modi ka Parivar (We are Modi’s family)” to their bio on X, the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh in an unconnected move announced a new scheme for women that was one of its poll promises in the hill state. Unsurprisingly, the scheme — as part of which the government will give Rs 1,500 per month to women between 18 and 60 years from the 2024-’25 financial year — was named Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna. Another Congress scheme named after a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, something Modi has often raised to target the party. When in power, the Congress names parks, streets, and squares after members of its first family, the PM keeps reiterating.

It is the default setting of Congressmen to name schemes or projects after the members of the Nehru-Gandhi family and they see nothing unusual or inappropriate in it. But it is this almost default setting of the Congress and Opposition parties that keeps giving the BJP and Modi the themes that they often turn into talking points for elections. Senior DMK leader A Raja’s latest remarks, which have triggered a political firestorm, are a case in point.

Raja’s remarks that India is not a country but a subcontinent as different states have different traditions, cultures, and nationalities and that the people of Tamil Nadu will not accept the BJP’s “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” chants have caused unease among several INDIA parties. Coming as it does on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, they are alarmed by the timing of Raja’s comments. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was quick to disassociate saying it was the DMK leader’s view and not that of the alliance.

The Congress condemned Raja’s remarks in strong terms. “I 100% disagree with his remarks. From this platform, I condemn such a statement. I believe Ram belongs to everyone and is all-encompassing … I believe that Ram, who was called Imam-e-Hind, is above communities, religions and castes. What is Ram? Ram is an ideal of living life. Ram is dignity, Ram is ethics, Ram is love. I completely condemn this statement, it could be his (Raja’s) statement. I do not support it. I condemn it and I think people should exercise restraint while talking,” said Congress social media head Supriya Shrinate.

But the DMK may not find Raja’s formulation new or controversial given the fact that the party, its founding fathers, and its ideological predecessors had been vehement proponents of rationalism and aggressive federalism. For the Dravidian party, this is almost a default ideological position and comments of the likes Raja made are not controversial in Tamil Nadu politics unlike in the north. Similarly, given his penchant for sarcastic humour — his rivals may term it crass — Lalu too may not find his remarks about Modi out of order although it has given the Prime Minister and his party added ammunition to sharpen focus on dynastic politics and parties, a vulnerable spot for several Opposition parties. But some INDIA bloc leaders feel that given both parties are part of a national alliance they could have considered a more politically pragmatic approach to avoid giving a handle to the BJP to corner it.

The controversies have once again come at an inopportune time for the Opposition, especially the Congress which is reeling under an exodus of sorts. But while Congress leaders were hoping that its controversy-prone leaders would stay quiet, the party’s allies have now given the BJP a talking point and Modi yet another opportunity to centre the discourse around him.