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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s victory speech following the BJP’s resounding wins in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir showcased a confident and aggressive posture, aimed at consolidating the party’s dominance and simultaneously attacking the opposition Congress. The speech, delivered to BJP workers, presented a clear narrative of the BJP's success as stemming from a rejection of the Congress's divisive tactics and a validation of the BJP's policies. It was a forceful rebuttal to the Congress's campaign strategy that attempted to paint the BJP as a threat to reservations and constitutional principles.
Modi directly targeted the Congress's focus on caste, accusing the party of exploiting divisions for political gain. He asserted that Rahul Gandhi's constant emphasis on caste was divisive and detrimental to national unity. The PM, himself belonging to the OBC community, highlighted the Congress's historical resistance to allowing Dalits, Tribals, and OBCs to rise to positions of power, painting the party as inherently exclusionary. He also accused the Congress of stoking tensions between farmers and soldiers for political maneuvering, claiming that the people of Haryana had rejected these tactics.
The PM further escalated his attack by accusing the Congress of systematically undermining national institutions, ranging from the judiciary and the Election Commission to Central agencies. He characterized this as part of a broader global conspiracy, with the Congress as a willing participant. This accusation was presented as a response to the Congress's unprecedented declaration that it would not accept the Haryana election results. Modi argued that the Haryana verdict was a clear rejection of these conspiratorial theories and demonstrated the public's trust in the institutions targeted by the Congress.
Moving beyond the Congress, Modi also sent a message to the party's allies within the INDIA bloc. He pointed to the discordant voices within the alliance, highlighting the Congress's inability to garner support even among its own partners. He attributed the Congress's poor showing in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir to its own failings, suggesting that the allies may be reconsidering their ties. This message was strategically timed amidst ongoing seat negotiations between the Congress and its allies for upcoming elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi.
In analyzing the results in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi presented the conduct of the polls as a testament to the success of the government's abrogation of Article 370. While acknowledging the challenges in the Valley, the PM emphasized the BJP's strong showing in Jammu, which he viewed as a symbolic affirmation of its policies in the region. The large voter turnout was also cited as evidence of the people's acceptance of the new political order. The PM further emphasized the constitutional implications of the J&K results, highlighting the BJP's commitment to upholding the Constitution and showcasing the extension of the Indian Constitution to the region as a tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar.
The speech was a blend of aggressive rhetoric, strategic messaging, and symbolic pronouncements. It was a clear attempt to position the BJP as the force for national unity and institutional stability, while simultaneously attacking the Congress as divisive, conspiratorial, and on the decline. The speech also served to consolidate the BJP's base, reassure its allies, and project an image of strength and confidence ahead of upcoming elections.
Source: Caste to Constitution, INDIA to J-K: The takeaways from PM Modi’s victory speech