IANS | 30 Apr, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's letter to BJP and NDA candidates ahead
of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections reflects the leadership's
strategic focus on countering the Congress party's narrative.
PM
Modi wrote a separate letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, lauding
his leadership and contributions to the successful execution of key
policy measures.
By praising Amit Shah’s involvement in the
abrogation of Article 370 and the passage of the CAA, PM Modi apparently
sought to underscore the BJP's commitment to its nationalist agenda.
PM
Modi’s communication to the BJP candidates and Amit Shah on Tuesday has
provided key talking points for the party workers on the BJP-led
government's achievements, particularly the significant policy decisions
such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the passage of the
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
These achievements are portrayed as emblematic of the BJP's commitment to national security, unity, and inclusive governance.
The
reference to Article 370 could also be interpreted as symbolic,
suggesting that the BJP aims to secure ‘370’ parliamentary seats in the
Lok Sabha elections. It may serve as a strategic messaging tactic to
capture public attention and generate buzz around the BJP's poll
campaign.
The contentious issue of Article 370 may be linked to the BJP’s goal of winning as many Lok Sabha seats.
The
letter also instructs the party workers to create awareness among the
voters about the ‘intentions’ of the opposition, particularly the
Congress.
PM Modi accuses the Congress of seeking to “take away
hard-earned wealth” and “snatch reservation” from the marginalised
communities for its vote bank. This narrative aims to paint the
opposition as a divisive force that is focused on appeasement, rather
than national interests.
By urging the candidates and party
workers to highlight what he perceives as the Congress' “politics of
division and appeasement”, PM Modi is likely aiming to consolidate
support for the BJP by framing the opposition party as divisive and
focused on appeasing certain groups rather, than prioritising national
interests.
The letter also focuses on portraying the Congress as a
threat to the economic well-being and social rights of the people. The
language used in the letter, alleging that the Congress is "bent upon
taking away hard-earned wealth" and "snatching reservation" from
marginalised communities, is designed to set a strong narrative that
affects the grassroots strata of the society.
By framing the
Congress as a force that “prioritises its own electoral interests over
the welfare of the people”, PM Modi seeks to consolidate support for the
BJP by presenting it as the defender of economic prosperity and social
justice.
The mention of reservation policies further amplifies
this narrative, tapping into the existing anxieties and insecurities
among certain sections of society.
The matters such as abrogation
of Article 370, implementation of CAA, etc., which PM Modi referred to
in the letter to Amit Shah, are portrayed as decisive steps towards
safeguarding national security and protecting the persecuted minorities.
PM Modi's letter to the Home Minister reinforces the BJP's
narrative on issues related to national security, territorial integrity,
and protection of persecuted minorities. It also seeks to project the
BJP as a decisive and proactive government committed to upholding the
interests of the nation.
Additionally, by directly involving
himself in the communication with the candidates, PM Modi is,
understandably, leveraging his personal popularity and influence within
the party to underscore the importance of this messaging strategy.
It
is also believed that this approach not only reinforces the party line,
but also emphasises PM Modi's central role within the BJP’s election
strategy.
Moreover, the timing of the letters, ahead of the third
phase of elections scheduled on May 7, suggests that the BJP sees this
as a critical juncture in the campaign where it needs to solidify its
messaging and energise its base to secure electoral gains.
With a
strong narrative on developmental and nationalist issues as mentioned
in the letters, PM Modi seems to have aimed to maintain momentum and
sway the undecided voters in BJP’s favor.
PM Modi’s letters also
underscore the party's focus on narrative control, ideological
positioning, and leveraging his personal appeal to shape the electoral
discourse in BJP’s favour. Analysts believe that “this strategy aims to
tap into nationalist sentiments and rally support by portraying the BJP
as the guardian of India's unity and national interest”.
In other
words, PM Modi has sought to portray the Congress as a party that caters
to specific groups at the expense of national unity, thus positioning
the BJP as the party of the entire nation.