*Welfarism expanded to include official charity *Economic data-based quota politics *Wider acceptance of Muslims’ negative portrayal *Universalisation of religion-based politicsThe 2024 general election is going to be an important event for two reasons. First, the outcome of this electoral battle will decide the political destiny of two powerful coalitions – BJP-led NDA and Congress-dominated INDIA bloc. BJP has so far relied heavily on Modi. It will be interesting to observe how this Modi-centric campaign helps the party retain its electoral hegemony.On the other hand, Opposition, especially Congress, has been successful so far in establishing itself as a serious challenger. This is certainly a new development. BJP’s electoral success has played a significant role in the political marginalisation of Opposition in the last 10 years. This time, however, Opposition is much more active in pursuing an aggressive electoral campaign. This aggressive politics will certainly have an impact on the electoral outcome.Battle of ideas | The 2024 election has another significance, which doesn’t entirely depend on the Lok Sabha results. This election has led to an interesting battle of political ideas and imaginations. For the first time in three decades, fundamental questions of our political life are being debated and discussed. Issues such as citizenship, elections, democratic decentralisation, role of judiciary and other government agencies – usually taken as settled matters of democratic polity – are being systematically redefined as contested entities.Modi-led BJP posed a serious challenge to the Nehruvian consensus, especially in relation to the constitutional ideals of secularism and affirmative action. This attack mode of intellectual politics by BJP forced Opposition to take a rather defensive position. Rahul’s two Bharat Jodo Yatras were a turning point. These grassroots-oriented political interventions provided a new vocabulary to Opposition leaders. They began to talk about nyay as a new ideological template. This nyay-centric narrative is pitted against Hindutva-driven nationalism in an interesting manner. Broadly speaking, four key political ideas have started taking concrete shape.The charitable state | Democratisation of economic sphere has become a political reference point. Congress manifesto emphasises the fact that BJP’s economic policies have led to ever-growing economic inequalities. BJP, especially PM, hasn’t ignored this issue either. In an interview, Modi clarified his govt’s welfare schemes have helped poor and marginalised communities to develop their economic capacity. This argument, in a way, justifies what I call the Charitable State model – a state that offers welfarism as a kind of official charity, while remaining committed to open market economy.It’s important to note here that Congress, and for that matter other parties in INDIA, are also committed to some form of populist schemes to mobilise electoral support. However, their position on economic disparity somehow pushes them to rethink their version of Charitable State model.A new caste prism | Secularisation of affirmative action is the second key idea. INDIA bloc has made it clear it will go for a countrywide caste census. This argument has two related implications. First, it would unpack the existing logic of affirmative action across the country. This will help assess caste-wise benefits of reservation. Second, it will provide a socio-economic status of each caste group, including non-Hindu castes. This will help decide on further affirmative action.The debate on possible inclusion of Muslim and Christian Dalits in Scheduled Caste list, which is still restricted to Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh Dalits, might get a new lease of life. BJP hasn’t yet taken any clear position on this issue. However, the party has evoked the Muslim reservation issue to reiterate its official position that the purpose of reservation has always been to reform Hinduism; hence, Muslims and Christian Dalit communities should not be given SC status.That minority matter | Negative representation of Muslim presence is the third key idea that evolved in this election. After the first phase of polling, BJP establishment decided to launch an aggressive political campaign to reach out to its traditional support base. Party brass systematically followed clear anti-Muslim rhetoric to justify the old BJP argument on Muslim appeasement.Interestingly, Congress and other Opposition parties didn’t respond to this active anti-Muslim politics. Their strategic silence underlines the fact that they haven’t yet produced any convincing position against the negative portrayal of Muslim presence in public life. God’s come home | Religionisation of politics is the fourth central theme that’s going to affect the future discourse of Indian politics. BJP establishment evoked the Ram temple and other religious symbols more directly to mobilise voters. Opposition parties, on the other hand, did not object to this active use of religion in politics. Instead, leadership of non-BJP parties did not hesitate to invoke Hindu religious symbols to show their Hindu credentials. This uncritical acceptance of religion in election process will have far-reaching political consequences. It’s too early to make any observation on this political-intellectual churning. BJP is keen to appropriate nyay in its framework of Hindutva; while Opposition is still hesitant to give up the Hindu-sentiments argument completely. This tussle, arguably, will produce a new narrative of politics in years to come.The writer is Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
