In a diverse nation like India, people of different religions and caste coexist, making elections even more entertaining to watch.
In the run-up to 2024 Lok Sabha polls, political parties in the country are strategizing their campaigns to appeal to the various communities that support them. Candidates are even chosen on the basis of community or caste.
Pro-Hindu Agenda Gaining Prominence in India: Here's Why
Hindus, especially Brahmins, Baniyas, and Kshatriyas, have traditionally been an ardent supporter of the ruling BJP party, and this trend has even increased in the recent years.
The rising support of Hindus for BJP is a blow for India's opposition, whic has accused the ruling party of promoting its Hindutva agenda. the BJP, however, is trying to make development its major focus, especially among the least prosperous groups.
Devotees wait in a long queue to see and pray at the newly opened Lord Ram temple, in Ayodhya, India, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
© AP Photo / Rajesh Kumar Singh
Defending Hindu culture and tradition has moved up the agenda in the wake of increased incidents of attacks on Hindu temples in Canada and other western nations hosting large Hindu diasporas.
The Indian National Congress, the party of Gandhi and Nehru, has mostly counted on the support of other groups in society: other backward classes, Dalits — 'untouchables' — as well as Indian Muslims.
Muslim support for Congress was evident during the state assembly polls of Karnataka and Telangana. In Telangana, Muslims voted for Congress despite the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) supporting the then ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
But to gain support from Hindu voters, in the recent years Congress politicians including Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have visited several temples.
Will Congress Secure Hindu Support in the Upcoming Election?
Political expert Shrikant Pandey told Sputnik India that Hindus are unlikely to back Congress as it has attracted an anti-Hindu reputaion for various reasons.
“Priyank Kharge, Congress politician and son of current Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, had made controversial remarks on Sanatan Dharm last year and the party was silent over it. Then the party’s silence over another controversial remark by Udhayanidhi Stalin, politician of its ally in I.N.D.I.A. bloc, also went against it,” Pandey said.
On top of that, the refusal of the top brass of the party to attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple has also gone against the party, he argued
He added that in an attempt to attract Hindu voters, Congress risks losing Muslim voters.
“Muslim voters believe that regional parties are not an option against BJP while a national party like Congress is a better option. This is the reason they voted one-sided for Congress in Karnataka and Telangana,” he said.