Two yatras, different routes: BJP and Congress narrative war on MP streets but strategies unalike

The objective of the BJP’s yatra is to counter the anti-incumbency factor by showcasing the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government’s achievements and highlighting the party’s Ladli Behana Yojana, a scheme that promises to give women from marginalised groups Rs 1,250 per month. Chouhan is also trying to toughen up his image that of a moderate Hindutva leader to a more hardcore one, earning the “bulldozer mama” moniker. His cavalcade is often seen passing underneath bulldozer arch formations.

The BJP, which claims that more than a crore people have attended the rallies, has been going on the offensive against the Congress and the INDIA bloc since DMK leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments earlier this month on “eradicating” Sanatan Dharma. BJP insiders told The Indian Express that the “central leadership decided not to undertake the yatras under CM Chouhan’s leadership as it fears the anti-incumbency factor”. Chouhan is currently in his fifth term as CM.

“After receiving feedback, the central leadership decided to bring in several BJP leaders from other states. Even the campaign theme song is on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not the CM,” said a BJP leader

The Congress, meanwhile, is banking on its local workers getting the job done by fanning the seeming disaffection with the state government on the ground. As it did successfully ahead of the Karnataka elections earlier this year — and is currently emulating in Telangana and Rajasthan — the party has been emphasising its poll promises, including a Rs 1,500 monthly handout for women, free gas cylinders, and 100 units of electricity. It has also been targeting the government over alleged atrocities against tribals and Dalits, unemployment, and farm distress. For the Opposition party led by Kamal Nath, exposing the BJP’s “claims of development” is its chief target.

“There is anger among the public in these yatras which we will channel and we are becoming successful in that. We will also talk about the issues that matter to the common man and this has had an impact. The BJP’s star leaders and the entire government machinery cannot hide the empty seats in the yatra,” said Congress spokesperson K K Mishra.

The BJP’s yatra faced some public anger earlier this month when residents of the village of Rauli Kudi in Neemuch district, allegedly angry over the implementation of the Cheetah project and the forest department’s decision to fence agricultural land, pelted stones at the BJP procession.

Some political watchers believe that the lack of local faces and issues in the campaign could pose a problem for the BJP. “The yatra has become a centralised campaign, state elections tend to be localised,” political analyst Rasheed Kidwai told The Indian Express. “In contrast, the Congress has a quiet campaign and does not have the central leadership intervening. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is not interfering. (Party general secretary) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has come a few times but on the invitation of (state Congress chief) Kamal Nath.”

Others believe that “internal differences” in the BJP between party old-timers and former Congress leaders belonging to the camp of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia could be a potential problem. “If you look at regional newspapers in MP, you do not see Scindia’s photos. No one knows where he is giving his speeches or rallies,” said political analyst Deshdeep Saxen.

In recent days, the BJP has attacked the Congress for not having a Dalit, Muslim or a woman face in its campaign. It also hit out at the party for not involving former CM Digvijaya Singh. It is not as if all is well in the Congress, where internal differences have also come to the fore in some places. “The issue seems to be lack of unity and planning,” political analyst Arun Dixit said, pointing out that some senior leaders had not been accommodated in the yatra. He cited the example of Deepak Joshi, the son of senior BJP leader Kailash Joshi who joined the party in May.

A group of Congress workers on Friday clashed at a Jan Akrosh rally in Chhatarpur district led by party leader Arun Yadav, underscoring the challenge for the Opposition to remain united in the run-up to the elections.