BJP turn its nascent presence a few years ago to a thumping victory and that too in a region that is mired in complex caste, religion and tribal calculations.
The BJP expanding its Northeast footprint with a spectacular win in Tripura, ending the two-decade run of CPM's Manik Sarkar as chief minister, will be counted as a remarkable feat in the electoral history of the country. But how did the BJP turn its nascent presence a few years ago to a thumping victory and that too in a region that is mired in complex caste, religion and tribal calculations.
The answer perhaps lies in stitching a customised poll campaign and the unprecedented thrust since PM Narendra Modi assumed office in Delhi in 2014. Not only did he make the Northeast a vehicle of Act East Foreign Policy, but he made his ministers visit the region frequently. Insiders in the BJP said that the PM was personally monitoring the electoral campaign on a daily basis. Even during foreign tours, he made a point to keep himself abreast with the campaign in the three states.
In Tripura, despite the work of stalwarts like Himanta Biswa Sarma and Sunil Deodhar, the BJP's data team overworked to mine data trends.
"We studied the electorate and found out that over 35% of the electorate were either four years or below when the CPM came to power in 1998," says Shivam Shankar Singh, who manages data and campaigns for the BJP. It was this 35% that the party had focused on, and with a young CM face, it was not too difficult.
In Nagaland and Meghalaya, too, the party worked out customised poll strategies. In Meghalaya, the party sent in Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, who tried to work on the Christian vote bank, while in Nagaland, a clever stitching of an alliance with the NDPP under former CM Neiphiu Rio worked to the party's benefit.
Yet, for the most part, the most important question has been how did the BJP thaw into the Christian vote bank in the region despite its anti-minority, pro-Hindutva image. BJP's Tripura in-charge Sunil Deodhar says that the party's image is one created by the Left and the Congress and with Tripura and Nagaland, and possibly even Meghalaya, in sight, the party's true character emerged.
"Of course, the party is ideologically uncomfortable with the idea of forced conversions, but we are a party of inclusive development. When we say 'sab ka saath, sab ka vikaas', we mean it. And, now that the results are out, it is evident that the Northeast has chosen us," said Deodhar.
Another key factor has been the party's poll offerings in the states. While in Tripura, it was the promise of implementing the Seventh Pay Commission, or the promise of giving free sanitary pads; in Meghalaya, it was the promise of sending people to a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and in Nagaland — the offerings are evident that the party studied what the electorate wants.
In Meghalaya, the party has worked alongside ally NPP to ensure that the Congress does not slide into a comfortable victory. Speaking to DNA, Kannanthanam said the fact that the party is making a break in Meghalaya is reason enough for cheer. "We cannot say at this point whether we will form the government or not, but development is key and the Modi government's delivery in the last four years will attest to that," said the minister.
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