The outcome of Haryana's elections isn't surprising if you’re familiar with the BJP’s political tactics and strategies. Simply put, the results are a testament to BJP's planning.
In the elections, Congress aggressively highlighted the issues concerning farmers, soldiers, and athletes. They particularly targeted the BJP on farmers' concerns, even claiming that if they came to power, they would open the borders at Shambhu for farmers sitting there to proceed to Delhi. They also devised various strategies to pull the Jat community away from the BJP.
There was a concerted effort to create an image of unrest among Haryana's farmers against the BJP, indicating that the farmers would teach BJP a lesson this time. But with the current results, one wonders how seemingly displeased farmers came around and what strategy BJP employed.
Were Farmers Truly Upset?
The second major issue of the Haryana elections was related to 'Jawaan'. Congress tied it directly with the Agniveer scheme because around 10% of the soldiers hail from Haryana, which has a population of about 30 million. Moreover, the issues of farmers and soldiers are intertwined in every household in Haryana. Congress labeled the Central Government's Agniveer scheme as the biggest betrayal to soldiers. Even during the Lok Sabha elections, Congress raised these issues nationwide. Despite the intense campaigning, BJP won on five Lok Sabha seats in Haryana.
While the issues of jawans and farmers appeared most prominent in Haryana, they also resonated in Punjab, where BJP is not in the race. In such a political landscape, if BJP were to form the government for the third consecutive time in Haryana, it would dismantle the perception of dissatisfaction among farmers and soldiers.
The success in Haryana’s 'Jatland' for BJP raises questions on the actual presence of a soldier and farmer issue. Will Congress continue to highlight these subjects in the future? This election outcome will clarify if the opposition's narrative around the 'Agniveer Scheme' holds any ground with the public. Should public consensus favor the Agniveer scheme, then raising it as an issue might no longer be straightforward for the opposition.
Growing Acceptance of the Agniveer Scheme
Just before the Haryana elections, BJP made slight revisions to its strategy, increasing the 'Farmer’s Honor Fund' from 6 to 10 rupees. Additionally, BJP promised permanent employment to every Haryana Agniveer, sending a clear message that there is no reason to be upset with BJP when assured of a permanent job.
With this, it's evident that BJP received public support on the Agniveer and farmer issues, and they intend to capitalize on this sentiment in other states. The acceptance of the Agniveer scheme has grown, suggesting that farmers might need to reassess their movement demands.
Haryana's Hat-Trick... A Booster for BJP
For BJP, winning the Haryana election was a litmus test following the Lok Sabha elections. This test proved triumphantly positive for BJP, indicating that farmers and soldiers are allied with them. The anticipated elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand will likely resonate with the clear message from Haryana. If BJP forms the government for the third consecutive time, it becomes a historic milestone, dispelling the notions of prevalent issues concerning farmers, soldiers, and athletes, bringing significant relief to BJP.
Meanwhile, internal opposition voices from Congress are beginning to surface. Kumari Selja comments that despite such circumstances, BJP’s victory in Haryana forces them to reconsider their electoral strategy and raised issues.
