Congress adopting saffron strategy to counter BJP's Hindutva in Uttar Pradesh?
BJP's emphasis on Hindutva, the Congress appears to be treading the saffron path in Uttar Pradesh. On August 24, as Ajay Rai, the newly appointed state president of the party, assumed office at UPCC headquarters in Lucknow, the event kicked off with the recitation of vedic hymns, followed by a symbolic Ganga Aarti.
Before this, Rai sought the blessings of the deity at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.
Moreover, on Monday, party members conducted a Rudrabhishek ceremony at the state headquarters to commemorate the final Monday of the Shrawan month. Political analysts interpret this move as a strategic step ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
A BJP leader remarked, «Right before elections, the Congress tries to assert that it, too, has Hindu antecedents.»
Observers also view this as a political maneuver.
Professor Sushil Pandey from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, who is a political commentator, told TOI, «The Congress, often accused of favoring minorities, has inadvertently acquired an image of being anti-Hindu due to its anti-BJP stance. This perception hasn't resonated well with Hindus, prompting the Congress to consistently counter this negative image.»
Congress leaders, however, maintain that these actions shouldn't be construed solely through a political lens.
A senior Congress figure emphasized, «Both instances mentioned here reflect an aspect of Indian way of life. Our new state president's devotion to Kashi Vishwanath is a personal commitment, integral to his life, not just politics.»
Insiders suggest that Hindutva is poised to play a pivotal role in the upcoming elections in the five states, as well as the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
