BJP’s ‘Chanakya inspired’ policy to divide, rule and win elections

These are strange times. Those who preach morality in public life have no qualms about using Chanakya neeti of ‘saam daam dand bhed’ (lure, pay, threaten and divide). Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for instance, wants to cleanse Indian politics of black money. He even put the entire country to great hardship with the demonetisation scheme to implement his ‘noble idea’ of a clean public life.

But look at what Modi’s managers are busy doing to increase BJP’s tally in the upper house of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. Take, for instance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat. The BJP can clearly win two seats on its own strength in the Gujarat assembly. It also has a few surplus votes. So, why not take a long shot winning the third seat too.

How to go about it? The BJP game plan is to win one extra seat by hook or crook. Simply use, ‘sam daam dand bhed’ niti to make it three. After all, it is an ancient practice from the days of Chanakya. And, the BJP wants to glorify ancient Bharat. That is what BJP’s mangers are exactly doing in Modi’s home state.

First, Gujarat Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela resigned from the Congress. His 11 supporters voted for BJP presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind. Then, six more Congress MLAs, along with its chief whip in Gujarat assembly, resigned.

In these times of market economy, you do not have change of heart simply for the love of a principle. Frankly, politicians switch sides for some personal profit. And, if someone is willing to pay a ‘daam’, go for it. Chankaya taught it; just accept it.

Congress spokesperson Shankersinh Gohil has alleged that the rate of a single MLA voting for the BJP from any other party is Rs 15 crore. He may not be much off the mark. Earlier, MPs and MLAs were lured with a petrol pump license and a few lakhs in cash.

Going by the inflation, current market rates of MLAs and MPs for switching sides is not too high. Nor is it much of a problem for political parties to mobilise such huge money in these days of crony capitalism. BJP’s Gujarat unit has no qualms either as they indulge in ‘daam niti’.

After all, we live in the Nitish Kumar era of opportunistic politics when power over principles counts. The “great’’ Bihari politician switched sides from the BJP camp to secular camp and went back to the BJP within three years, after spurning Narendra Modi for a dinner in 2014.

There is no proof of Nitish charging any fee for the sudden change of heart. Surely, though, Nitish’s recent somersault was not for love of any principle or ideology. After all, it is the age of saam daam dand bhed niti. It is practised shamelessly for the sake of power which is the hallmark of politicians like Nitish and his newfound friends in the BJP.

Well, the BJP is adept at bhed—divide—niti. Rake up the mandir-masjid issue to win UP; engineer mass murders to divide and win Gujarat. Rake up love-jihad and gauraksha to sow the seeds of hatred between Hindus and Muslims again to win an election. Politics of divide comes so natural to the Sangh parivar that it would have put to shame even the British rulers who practised divide and rule to enslave India.

Good bye, politics of principles. Welcome saam daam dand behd niti. After all, it is our ancient heritage and matches well with Sangh agenda to take India to ancient days rather than transforming India into a modern nation which was the dream of Jawaharlal Nehru, and not of Veer Sarvakar.

Hail Chanakya; win elections.