NEW DELHI: The Modi government’s aggressive attempt to leverage the recent military action termed ‘Operation Sindur’ for electoral gains has sparked intense political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of politicizing national security for votes. The move appears to have backfired, as senior leaders across non-BJP parties have begun closing ranks to counter the ruling party’s strategy in the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for later this year.
The controversy was further fueled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks during an election rally in Madhubani, Bihar and second time in Bikaner with on span of one months where he issued a stark warning to Pakistan over its alleged role in a failed misadventure near Pahalgam. The statement of PM Modi widely seen as an attempt to rally nationalist sentiment, echoed the rhetoric from the post-Pulwama and Balakot strikes in 2019. However, political analysts argue that the impact may not be the same this time around.
A senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that the party’s current positioning on national security lacks the same traction as in 2019. “Public confidence in our ability to handle Pakistan has declined. Unlike in 2019, the narrative hasn’t galvanized public sentiment as strongly,” he said.
Political observers believe that the BJP is facing a tougher terrain in Bihar, a state known for its complex caste dynamics and fragmented political loyalties. The recent push for a caste census—long resisted by the BJP—was seen as a political win for the opposition. Under mounting pressure from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, the Prime Minister was compelled to greenlight the census, marking a strategic concession ahead of the elections.
Sources within the BJP suggest that internal assessments indicate limited room for maneuvering in Bihar, where the party has traditionally struggled to consolidate support beyond upper-caste communities. Drawing parallels with Maharashtra, where the BJP engineered a dramatic power grab by sidelining its allies and installing its own chief minister, party strategists have considered a similar approach in Bihar. However, the ground realities in the state may not be as conducive.
The opposition has been quick to pounce on what it calls the BJP’s “desperate militarism.” Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated, “It is shameful that the government is using the valour of our armed forces for electioneering. National security is not a poll plank.” RJD leaders echoed similar sentiments, accusing the BJP of trying to divert attention from governance failures, rising unemployment, and inflation.
Despite the central government’s media blitz and the framing of Operation Sindur as a major strategic victory, public response remains lukewarm. The narrative of national security, which once gave BJP an edge, seems to have diminished in its emotive pull.
With the electoral battlefield heating up, the BJP faces the dual challenge of reviving public confidence while countering a reinvigorated opposition coalition. The Bihar elections are shaping up to be a litmus test for the party’s evolving political strategies in a post-2019 environment where nationalism alone may not suffice.
