Elections 2009: The BJP's big change dilemma

The verdict has thrown up a clear message for the BJP - change or perish. Change is imperative if the party has to survive. The question is can the BJP change? Unlike other parties, even the Left ones, the BJP will find it tough.

If we look at the party's history, it may find the task difficult. The BJP in its earlier avatar as the Jan Sangh was little more than a political fron t for the RSS - a rabidly hindu organization. Which sees India's minorities as deserving nothing more than second class citizen status. In the RSS worldview, Muslims, Macaulay and Marx are the main threats to Hindu revival. While the RSS's antipathy to Muslims is well known, Macaulay represents modern (read western) education while Marx preaches a godless society.

The RSS worldview forms the core of BJP's intellectual DNA and is the reason why the party finds it difficult to censure Narendra ModiNarendra Modi for not preventing the pogrom against muslims in Gujarat, Varun Gandhi for making hate speeches or the perpetrators of the Kandmahal violence.

The problem for the BJP is it shot into political power with the espousal of communal politics. The Ram Mandir agitation is what moved it from 2 Lok Sabha seats to 90. However it also released forces that were beyond its control. The VHP and Bajrang Dal are India's taliban, and like the Pakistani taliban they too have a narrow, communal and sectarian agenda.

Look at the record of most states under BJP rule and you will find these organizations active and pushing their agenda. Be it forcible conversion of tribals to hinduism or attacking christians or muslims. The likes of Sri Ram Sene flourish in BJP ruled states.

This is the trouble the BJP faces in reengineering itself - the likes of VHP, Bajrang Dal, Sri Ram Sene give it the shock troops. Much like Hitler used the SS to silence critics, the BJP uses the Indian taliban to its advantage.

The dirty work of bashing up intellectuals, supposedly anti-hindu art shows, films etc are left to this lunatic fringe while the party itself maintains a studied silence. No wonder then a Modi is projected as a future prime minister and Varun Gandhi's hate speech is met with silence.

Unfortunately for the BJP, the voters are tiring of this minority bashing, most of us want to get on with our lives and get ahead. The BJP on the other hand, wants us to move back.

The party with a difference has no vision to offer us. Minority bashing is no vision for people wanting to progress.

It tried to exploit the Mumbai terror attack during the Delhi elections only to fall flat on its face.

The way ahead for the BJP lies in giving up the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal worldview and embracing a vision of Indian nationalism instead of hindu nationalism. Protecting Indians irrespective of religion, caste, creed will mean coming down hard on the Indian taliban. This first step will have to be followed by an alternate economic view, right now the BJP resembles too much a Congress B team. Then there's external affairs, the party that strongly proposed closer ties with the USA was gaianst the nuclear deal.

The fact is India needs a right of center party but in its present avatar, the BJP does not cut much ice. In its chintan shivir, the party has much to think about.