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The upcoming swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government in Haryana, scheduled for October 17th, is not merely a logistical event but a carefully calculated political move. The date, which coincides with Valmiki Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the author of the Ramayana, is a deliberate signal aimed at consolidating the BJP's support amongst the Dalit and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities.
This calculated move is significant considering the BJP's recent electoral successes in Haryana. Despite winning only five out of ten Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections, the party secured a record third consecutive term in the recent state elections. This triumph is attributed to the BJP's strategic outreach to the Jat community, traditionally a Congress stronghold, and its success in swaying a considerable portion of the Dalit-OBC vote bank, which had previously favored the Congress. This success is directly linked to the BJP's targeted welfare initiatives, including the provision of gas cylinders at a subsidized rate of Rs 500 and the adoption of Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana in the form of the Lado Lakshmi Yojana. These programs resonated deeply with women from Dalit and OBC backgrounds, solidifying the BJP's position as the party that genuinely prioritizes the needs of marginalized communities.
The BJP's unwavering dedication to honoring Valmiki and other prominent saints has been a consistent theme throughout their tenure. In 2015, the party declared that a university in Haryana would be named after Maharishi Valmiki, and since 2016, Valmiki Jayanti has been recognized as a state-level event. The renaming of Kaithal University to Maharishi Valmiki Sanskrit University in 2021 further reinforces this commitment. This trend extends beyond Valmiki; the BJP has actively recognized the contributions of various religious icons and leaders through state-level events, including the dedication of the CM's residence in Chandigarh as “Sant Kabir Kutir” in 2022 and the launch of the Sant-Mahapurush Vichar Samman and Prasar Yojana, which aims to highlight the achievements of these figures.
The BJP's deliberate choice of October 17th as the date for the swearing-in ceremony is not a mere coincidence. It underscores the party's understanding of the significance of cultural and religious sentiments in bolstering political support, particularly among the marginalized communities. By aligning the event with Valmiki Jayanti, the BJP seeks to reinforce its image as a party that champions the interests of the downtrodden and the marginalized, further solidifying its electoral prospects in Haryana.
Source: Why new BJP govt in Haryana will take oath on October 17: The political message behind the date