New Delhi: With the much-flaunted development plank not having the desired impact, the BJP is back to basics — polarising its votebank to consolidate Hindu support, particularly in Bihar. Going by the saffron arithmetic, with the possibility of Muslims consoldiating behind the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the meat ban move in Mumbai and elsewhere could tilt Hindu votes, particularly those of Yadavs, towards the BJP.
However, another school of thought within saffron circles feels the meat ban move could boomerang for the BJP as it would consolidate the 16 per cent Muslim vote in favour of the JD(U)-RJD combine, as they are the major players in Bihar, not the MIM. It was also pointed out that despite several attempts the BJP had so far been unable to make a dent in the RJD’s Yadav support base.
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In spite of the saffron slogan of steering Bihar away from “jungle raj” towards the path of development, the BJP has been virtually forced to play the caste card, and is going to the polls with two key dalit faces — Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan of the LJP and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi.
But despite having these two prominent dalit leaders on its side, the BJP is getting increasingly concerned over its failure to woo Yadavs. The saffron camp is therefore now pinning its hopes on the MIM.
BJP leaders indicated that the consolidation of the Muslim votebank in the MIM’s favour would break the RJD’s formidable Muslim-Yadav (MY) base. Saffron strategists hope that as Yadavs are “pro-Hindu” they would respond to the BJP’s move for a meat ban in Mumbai during the Jain and Hindu festivals.
