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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

From Ideology to Electability

BJP is blending ideology with pragmatism, elevating leaders from rival parties to power New Delhi: The growing tendency of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to elevate leaders from other parties to the position of Chief Minister represents a shift, one that reflects not only a recalibration of the party's strategy but also the evolving character of Indian politics itself. Once known primarily as a cadre-based party anchored firmly in ideological commitment, the BJP has entered a phase where...

From Ideology to Electability

BJP is blending ideology with pragmatism, elevating leaders from rival parties to power New Delhi: The growing tendency of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to elevate leaders from other parties to the position of Chief Minister represents a shift, one that reflects not only a recalibration of the party's strategy but also the evolving character of Indian politics itself. Once known primarily as a cadre-based party anchored firmly in ideological commitment, the BJP has entered a phase where political pragmatism is accorded equal importance alongside ideology. The clearest evidence of this transformation lies in the rising number of leaders who, after crossing over from other parties, have not only found space within the BJP but have gone on to occupy the highest offices of power. Names such as Basavaraj Bommai in Karnataka, Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam, and most recently Samrat Choudhary in Bihar have come to embody this trend. Each of these leaders had prior political affiliations outside the BJP, yet after joining the party, their stature and responsibilities have grown significantly. This is not an ad hoc development, but the outcome of a carefully crafted, multi-layered strategy. At the heart of this strategy lies a decisive emphasis on "winning ability." The BJP is no longer determining leadership solely on the basis of ideological loyalty, instead, it is prioritising individuals who possess electoral appeal, grassroots influence, and the capacity to navigate complex social equations. This explains why Himanta Biswa Sarma rose swiftly within the BJP to become Chief Minister and one of the party's most influential figures in the Northeast, who spent nearly two decades in the Congress. Similarly, leaders like Pema Khandu in Arunachal Pradesh, N. Biren Singh in Manipur, and Manik Saha in Tripura underscore the party's willingness to rely on strong local faces to expand its footprint in the Northeast, even if those leaders once belonged to the Congress. In Uttar Pradesh, the elevation of Brajesh Pathak, a former Bahujan Samaj Party leader, to the post of Deputy Chief Minister reflects a similar attempt to balance social equations. Key Driver One key driver of this approach is the relative absence of strong indigenous leadership in several states. In regions where the BJP historically lacked widely accepted local faces, turning to experienced leaders from other parties has proven to be a pragmatic solution. This marks a shift away from ideological rigidity toward an acceptance of political realities. A second critical factor is the need to manage caste and regional equations. Social structures continue to play a decisive role in Indian elections, and political success often hinges on aligning with these dynamics. In Bihar, the elevation of Samrat Choudhary is widely seen as an attempt to consolidate OBC/Kurmi support, while in Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai's leadership aligns with the influence of the Lingayat community. The third dimension of this strategy is the systematic weakening of the opposition. By inducting influential leaders from rival parties and assigning them significant roles, the BJP not only strengthens its own ranks but also erodes the organizational capacity of its competitors. The induction of leaders such as Jyotiraditya Scindia, Narayan Rane, R. P. N. Singh, and Jitin Prasada, all of whom have been entrusted with key responsibilities in government and party structures, illustrates this approach. Two Levels The BJP's model now appears to function on two distinct levels: a strong and centralized leadership at the top, and influential local faces at the state level. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, the central command remains cohesive and firmly in control, while states are led by individuals capable of delivering electoral victories, irrespective of their political past. The rise of Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal further exemplifies this strategy. Once a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari is now one of the BJP's principal faces in the state, forming a cornerstone of the party's expansion efforts. The message is unmistakable clear that the opportunities within the BJP are no longer confined to its traditional cadre. Any leader with mass appeal and capability can aspire to the top. This shift also reflects the party's organisational confidence. The BJP believes its institutional structure is robust enough to quickly integrate leaders from outside and align them with its broader objectives. This has enabled a blend of ideological flexibility and political pragmatism. That said, the strategy is not without its internal contradictions. For long-time party workers, the rapid rise of leaders from outside may send mixed signals, potentially creating tensions within the cadre. Managing this balance will be a critical test for the party in the years ahead. Even so, in a broader sense, the BJP's approach represents a fusion of ideology and pragmatism. Its goals are clear that secure electoral victories, expand rapidly into new regions, and systematically weaken the opposition.

Remove minister till probe over: Rohit

Says aircraft owners being ‘shielded’

Mumbai: In more no-holds-barred revelations, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar claimed that efforts were on to ‘save’ the VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd company officials after the January 28 Baramati air-crash. He demanded the removal of Minister of Civil Aviation K. Rammohna Naidu till the investigations into the Learjet 45 aircraft are completed.


Making a second presentation in a week, Rohit Pawar brought up issues pertaining to illegal registrations, document tampering, insurance manipulations and video-evidence hinting at a potential deliberate act leading to the air-crash in which Nationalist Congress Party President and Deputy CM Ajit A. Pawar was among the five killed.


“Several leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of Andhra Pradesh and former ministers from Maharashtra attended the wedding of VSRVPL owner V. K. Singh’s son Rohit Singh. The company is still operating flights and top politicians continue to use the Learjet planes. Instead of trolling me, the Bharatiya Janata Party should support my demand for a transparent probe,” Rohit Pawar said sharply.


The NCP (SP) lawmaker alleged that the ill-fated Learjet was illegally registered in India with help of Directorate General of Civil Aviation officials. According to him, the plane was imported from the USA, owned by five others earlier, was worth barely Rs 10-15 cr., but deployed to ferry VIPs here.


US Registration

He referred to the sudden appearance of a US registration No. N80PQ’ on the plane’s wreckage after the crash which was not visible earlier, and contended that the aircraft was re-painted at home instead of authorized facilities which could cost Rs 3-4 cr.


Rohit Pawar questioned the AAIB’s claim that the Black Box was burnt in the crash and quoting experts, emphasized that Digital Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder can withstand temperatures of up to 1,100 C for an hour. He wondered why the recorder was sent to Canada when India has a Rs. 90-cr lab capable of the analysis inaugurated last year.


Building up pressure, Rohit Pawar contended that the crash may not be accidental, but the aircraft tilted before crashing as it may have been carrying extra fuel that made the explosion more severe and deadly for those on board.


“Instead of turning back, the plane hit the ground directly. Why did it not fall on the runway but veered off to the side? The DGCA norms stipulated 5000 m visibility but the conditions at Baramati that day were around 3000 m. In such a situation, the flight should have aborted landing or returned to Mumbai as alternatives like Pune, Solapur or Sindhudurg may be technically unfeasible,” Rohit Pawar argued.


Diving deeper, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA questioned the insurance value of Rs 55 cr and liability coverage of Rs 210 crore for the aircraft allegedly worth just Rs 10-15 cr. He raised doubts on the pilots’ licensing claiming that the Captain Sumit Kapur and a company official allegedly illegally operated different types of aircraft without proper licenses.


Flight Plan

Alleging flight plan tinkering by a Mumbai-based handler named Gopi, Rohit Pawar demanded valid CCTV footage, emails and time-stamped data instead of just ‘paper added to paper’.


Warning investigating officers against playing with the documents, he said “any discrepancy between official records and the video evidence” in his possession could lead to serious questions and repercussions.


Rohit lauds aunt Sunetra Pawar

Rohit Pawar welcomed the move by NCP leaders including his aunt and Deputy CM Sunetra A. Pawar, her son Parth, Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel, Hasan Mushrif, seeking a CBI probe into the Baramati crash. He noted that they had included several issues raised by him in the letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis.


On the political angle, he said there could be a couple of possibilities – speculation that the NCP (SP) would merge with the SP and join the NDA at the centre, or the SP and Ajit Pawar would quit the NDA; but certain forces were upset with either scenario unfolding.

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