The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is pursuing a dual strategy to broaden its reach. The first track focuses on attracting key figures from rival parties, especially Congress. While this approach may bring in only a few individuals, their impact is substantial.
The BJP is advancing on a dual front. On one side, it is aggressively expanding its membership base. For example, Champai Soren, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, recently joined the BJP following the reinstatement of Hemant Soren, who was allegedly implicated in a scandal.
This development underscores the party’s success in attracting high-profile leaders. By incorporating prominent figures from other parties, such as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma — who transitioned from Congress and has become a key player in the North East — the BJP leverages their influence and political networks.
The National Election Watch-ADR highlights that the primary drivers behind such defections are the lack of value-based politics, the pursuit of wealth and power, the allure of political rewards, and the dearth of effective, honest leadership. Meanwhile, the BJP aims to significantly bolster its ranks, targeting the recruitment of 100 million new members as part of its strategic expansion efforts.
At a recent meeting, the BJP leadership outlined a two-phase membership drive: from September 2 to 25, and then from October 1 to 15. Over the past decade, the BJP has experienced substantial growth. Originally supported mainly by upper-middle-class urban Hindus in the 1980s, the party has since expanded its base significantly, demonstrating its growing political clout. The BJP has surpassed Congress to become the world’s largest political party, boasting 180 million members compared to Congress’s 130 million. Between 2014 and 2019 alone, approximately 180 million individuals joined the BJP across India.
The BJP has welcomed 80,000 leaders and workers from various parties and plans to recruit around 100,000 leaders at both national and district levels. This membership drive not only aims to expand its base but also to gather detailed information about its members, including caste, gender, age, and residence.
Over the past decade, a significant number of prominent Congress leaders, such as former chief ministers and ministers, have joined the BJP. This trend reflects their dissatisfaction and ambition for power. In response, the BJP has offered many of these defectors prominent positions within the party.
Notable figures who have transitioned to the BJP include Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gulam Nabi Azad, Captain Amarinder Singh, Kapil Sibal, Jitin Prasada, R P N Singh, Milind Deora, and Jyotiraditya Scindia. Recently, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Ritesh Pandey, and Sangita Azad, among others, have also joined the BJP.
These new BJP recruits hail from a range of political parties, including Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, All India Trinamool Congress, and YSRCP. The BJP has gained significantly from these cross-party defections, while Congress has been particularly hard-hit since 2014. Opposition parties remain wary, fearing that the BJP will continue to entice their legislators to switch allegiance, especially during critical moments like government majority votes.
Why do these leaders defect? Many of them switch parties out of fear of becoming politically irrelevant if their original party loses power. By aligning with the BJP, they seek to maintain their influence and secure a stable future for their political careers, including opportunities for their children.
The BJP’s adeptness at attracting such leaders is highlighted by ADR analysis, which shows that 22 per cent of candidates who switched parties joined the BJP, while 10 per cent went to Congress and 6 per cent to BSP. This influx has bolstered the BJP’s influence, exemplified by figures like Hemanta Biswa Sarma in the North East.
The BJP welcomes these defectors for three main reasons: First, it weakens the rival party from which they defect. Second, it strengthens the BJP by incorporating well-known leaders from other established parties.
Third, the BJP’s relative lack of second-tier leadership makes it easier for the party to integrate defectors. However, it’s worth noting that not all defections are one-way. Figures such as Kalyan Singh, Shankar Singh Vaghela, and Yediyurappa — who were once chief ministers and even started their own parties — eventually rejoined the BJP after their new ventures faltered. This resilience is largely due to the strong ideological cohesion that binds the BJP together.
Long-time loyalists within the BJP often express dissatisfaction when new entrants receive prominent positions, despite their years of dedication to the party. This issue is not new; during Vajpayee’s tenure, the party could only accommodate a limited number of these loyal members, leading some to leave. Despite the BJP’s growth, its leadership remains predominantly upper-caste.
While the BJP has its strengths, it faces criticism for its narrow ideological scope, aggressive demeanour, complacency, and arrogance. The effectiveness of its upcoming membership drive will be a crucial test of its resilience and adaptability in the period following the 2024 elections.
Despite emerging as the largest party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured only 240 seats, falling 32 seats short of a majority. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambition to create a “Congress-Free India” may prove difficult to realise.
Eradicating a 140-year-old party like Congress in a single day is unrealistic, as Congress has demonstrated its ability to revive itself. To maintain its hold on power, the BJP must avoid repeating the errors made by Congress.
