Telangana BJP shifts focus from Hindutva to devpt agenda for local polls

Hyderabad: Based on the recent narrative and campaign strategies of BJP Telangana, the saffron party, it seems, shifted its focus towards a development agenda rather than its traditional Hindutva ideology. The change became particularly evident after the Jubilee Hills by-election, where religious remarks were made by BJP leaders.This is significant, especially given BJP's strong performance that pushed the Congress into a corner in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Telangana was dubbed a gateway for BJP in south India, considering the party was strong only in Karnataka until then.
A few leaders, including Bandi Sanjay, Raja Singh, and D Arvind, gained popularity through their aggressive remarks. There were heated exchanges with AIMIM as well. While the party continues to uphold its Hindutva ideology, it is now placing a greater emphasis on the development agenda of BJP-led NDA govt, particularly in local elections such as panchayat and municipal polls.Arvind and Sanjay opted to speak about the Congress govt's failures and the central govt's development work during the campaign. In a way, local and hyper-local issues occupied more space in BJP's narrative.Sources in the party reveal that some leaders are uneasy about a strong Hindutva stance. This was since many leaders from BRS and Congress had joined the party, and they argued that Telangana politics needed different treatment.The sources said the top leadership directed party leaders to prioritise the development agenda. Speaking to TOI, a top leader stated, "While we certainly advocate for the rights and protection of the majority community, we are also very clear about our Viksit Bharat 2047 agenda. We want to inform the public that BJP is committed to upholding culture, improving the economy, and prosperity. People may label us as a communal party, but the truth is that AIMIM is the one that fosters division."