Independent journalist and political commentator Shivam Vij, in his recent article, opined that Hindutva can't be the central narrative of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Lok Sabha elections 2019. "It will be like an admission before swing voters that Vikas has failed," he wrote citing other reasons for his conclusion. However, I feel the failure of Vikas is the very reason that will compel the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to let Hindutva overtake his poll narrative, whatever that may be.

Since 2014, PM Modi has played strategically both as the Hindu Hriday Samrat (the Emperor of Hindu Hearts), and the Vikas Purush (the development man). He keeps his public speeches around all-round development and banks on Hindu symbolism rather than anti-minority rhetoric. After taking over as the prime minister, Modi made communal remarks just before state elections. For example, in middle of assembly election campaign in Uttar Pradesh, he chose to pit Shamshan against Kabristan to highlight the bhedbhav by the then Akhilesh Yadav government. Ram Mandir: 50 Per Cent of Temple Carving Work Completed Despite Delay in Supreme Court Ayodhya Verdict.

While Modi sticks to his Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas narrative, BJP leaders such as Giriraj Singh, Yogi Adityanath, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Sakshi Maharaj, Subramanian Swamy, Sangeet Som, Anant Kumar Hegde, led by party chief Amit Shah, and the entire Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leave no stone unturned to assure its core voters that the party is not abandoning its ideological commitments. Sabarimala Row Escalates, Protesting Outfits Call Shutdown After Hindu Aikya Vedi Leader KP Sasikala Detained.

The statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, renaming of cities having Mughal or a Muslim connection, no celebration on the second anniversary of demonetisation, fuss over Ghuspethiye in view of Assam's NRC, political uproar over the Supreme Court's order on Sabarimala temple and most importantly the sudden urgency to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya indicate BJP's campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be dripping of Hindutva. Hopefully, the BJP-RSS combine will not resort to communal violence because it would further corroborate that Vikas has failed. Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Google Plans To Share Information About Who’s Paying For Election Ads in India.

The fact is Modi’s Achhe Din promises have fizzled out. The opposition knows the formula of defeating BJP - a grand alliance. The success of unanimous candidates by the opposition in Kairana, Gorakhpur, and Phulpur may not have laid the foundation of a Mahagathbandhan, but it was enough to make BJP feel insecure. The widening rift between the upper caste and the Dalits over the SC/ST Act is taking its toll on BJP's strategy to polarise all Hindu votes against one common enemy - the Muslims.

To retain power, the BJP needs Sab Hindus Ka Sath. An issue which can bring them all under one roof is "Hindutva". Instead of countering this majority narrative, the Congress decided to embrace soft Hindutva. Congress now hesitates to mention secularism or Muslims, and Rahul Gandhi doesn’t mind visiting temples for the optics. The BJP wants Congress to stay away from issues like jobs and income and stick to communal subjects where the saffron party already has the upper hand.

BJP's campaign for Gujarat assembly elections in which the party managed a face-saving win showed us a glimpse of the 2019 battle. When all else failed, BJP played several Hindutva cards - Pakistan, dadhi-topi (a reference to the Muslims) and Aurangzeb - to save Modi's home state. Gujarat outcome reaffirmed BJP and Modi that when all else fails, there is always Hindutva.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 17, 2018 01:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).