Modi Tones Down Electoral Speech while Mamata Banerjee Shows Aggressive Stance in Run-up to Elections
In a strategic shift, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has toned down his rhetoric in Bihar and West Bengal, opting for a more development-focused and restrained approach. This change in strategy is aimed at addressing the specific challenges and political dynamics of these states ahead of upcoming elections.
In Bihar, Modi has abandoned his long-used "jungle raj" slogan, criticising the previous RJD government, despite a recent spike in crime under the current NDA rule. Instead, he has focused on criticising RJD for corruption and nepotism while promoting the concept of an “NDA sarkar”. His messaging emphasises development goals, with ambitions to develop cities like Motihari and Patna akin to Mumbai and Pune.
In West Bengal, Modi has moderated his Hindutva rhetoric, adopting culturally rooted slogans such as "jai Ma Kali" and "jai Ma Durga" to connect with local sentiments. The BJP, politically, has taken a more cautious stance compared to its assertive 2021 campaign, focusing on development and governance rather than overtly aggressive posturing. Modi inaugurated substantial development projects worth over Rs 5,400 crore in sectors like oil and gas, power, and infrastructure, projecting an image of economic progress and empowerment.
However, a credibility issue persists for Modi, as the gap between what he thinks he has achieved and the lived reality of people in the places where he delivers his speeches remains a concern. This is particularly evident in the issue of out-migration from worse-off states, which Modi has avoided addressing.
In West Bengal, a new "Bhasha Andolan" or language movement, launched by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on July 21, has brought attention to the protection of Bengali speakers from alleged terrorisation by police and governments in BJP-ruled states. The Bhasha Andolan includes issues of illegal immigrants, Rohingya infiltrators, citizenship, and a fightback against the politics of using language as a marker of illegality.
Given Mamata Banerjee's recent calls for a "Bhasha Andolan" and her protests against the illegal deportation of Bengali migrant workers, Modi's silence on the subject during his visit was deafening. As Prime Minister, Modi bears responsibility for the wrongful confinement of Indian citizens incorrectly suspected to be illegal immigrants or aliens.
The revised campaign content of the BJP's biggest political asset points to an acknowledgement of a growing perception that the vote bank politics of the "Batenge Toh Katenge" sort may not be as effective in future elections as it was in 2024. The BJP's strategy of playing defence as a successful offensive manoeuvre might involve discovering and unveiling a new "Other" to bring the BJP luck with its usual tactics. In the world inhabited by the BJP ideologically, there has to be an "Other". Illegal Muslim infiltrators have featured in BJP's politics of identity for decades.
Modi visited Bihar and West Bengal on July 18 and delivered tame homilies instead of his usual "Ek Hain to Safe Hain" rhetoric. During his visit to West Bengal, he did not repeat his past political blunder of cat-calling Mamata Banerjee as "Didi, O Didi". He also avoided accusing Mamata Banerjee of appeasement politics.
The problem of making promises, or "guarantees", is they have a tendency of reappearing on report cards. Modi's new political strategies in these regions reflect a calculated move to prioritise governance, development, and regional cultural identity over polarising rhetoric. This approach appears designed to consolidate support by addressing local aspirations and mitigating vulnerabilities exposed by recent law-and-order issues and regional identity politics.
- The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with his modified strategy, is prioritizing education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and lifelong-learning, aiming to develop cities like Motihari and Patna, as seen in Bihar.
- In West Bengal, Modi's approach on personal-growth extends to mindfulness, taking a culturally sensitive approach with slogans like "jai Ma Kali" and "jai Ma Durga."
- Regarding policy-and-legislation, Modi's image of economic progress and empowerment, inaugurating substantial development projects, is a vital part of his revised messaging.
- The issue of out-migration from worse-off states still poses a challenge to Modi's credibility, as he has yet to address this topic openly.
- In West Bengal, the "Bhasha Andolan" launched by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee calls for protection of Bengali speakers and grapples with issues related to citizenship, crime-and-justice, and illegal immigrants.
- Modi's silence on the subject of the "Bhasha Andolan" reflects a lack of attention to the concerns of Bengali migrant workers and their status as Indian citizens.
- The BJP may resort to job-search tactics that focus on discovering and highlighting a new "Other," such as illegal Muslim infiltrators, to maintain its political power.
- Skills-training is an essential aspect for career-development and productivity, although without addressing the concerns of out-migration and the "Bhasha Andolan," Modi may face difficulties in winning over the voters in Bihar and West Bengal.
- Modi's moderated rhetoric, coupled with the focus on development and governance, demonstrates a commitment to general-news, highlighting his desire to consolidate support by addressing local aspirations and mitigating vulnerabilities exposed by recent law-and-order issues and regional identity politics.
