The year was 2014. The BJP was fresh out of its resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections. It was then that Pope Francis of Vatican, the spiritual head of Catholics all over the world, announced his decision to declare two Indians—Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sr Euphrasia Eluvathinkal—as saints. The BJP government, determined to show its secular side to the international community, dispatched a three-member delegation to Vatican.
But little did it know that Indian church was not a monolithic structure and that it was as complicated as Hindu religion with its myriad denominations and caste undertones.
All members of the delegation were Christians, but none were Catholics—two were Protestants and another was a Mar Thomite. And this was enough to upset the Catholic Church. Needless to say, BJP government’s first tryst with the Christian community backfired.
Two years later, in 2016, it sent another delegation to the Vatican for the canonisation ceremony of Mother Teresa. But, by then, the BJP had done its homework well and the delegation was duly represented by Catholics.
The story of these two delegations is a summary of the BJP’s tryst with the complicated structure of Christian community in the country. So when BJP president Amit Shah came to Kerala, a state seen as the "biggest challenge" to BJP’s pan-India dream, his priority was clear. He wanted to meet the heads of all Christian sects.
Most prominent Christian leaders did attend the meeting. Amit Shah went and met those who did not arrive.
"We have had a very positive interaction. The BJP president was very courteous and responded to all the issues we raised," said Bishop Thomas Mar Athanasious about the meeting.
But the catch is in the issues that remained un-discussed. Neither the raging issue of regulations on cattle slaughter nor the issue of churches being attacked in north India came up for discussion.
Naturally, the state BJP leaders are upbeat about the outcome of the meetings. "The meetings have really brought the Christian community closer to the party. There was no discussion about any controversial matter. Everything was positive," state BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan told THE WEEK.
When asked about why there was no meeting with Muslim community leaders, the most populous minority community in the state, Kummanam said the meeting would take place at the time of BJP president's next visit.
Kerala—with its powerful minority communities, strong presence of the left parties, beef-eating Hindus and well-entrenched bipolar politics—was an unsurmountable hill for the BJP, till the recent assembly elections.
BJP central leadership also understands the scenario and is trying to overcome this precarious situation by winning over sections of minorities, mostly elitist ones. "If the BJP succeeds in winning over elite sections, the rest will follow as we saw in the case of Gujarat and UP," said writer M.N. Karassery.
The BJP has also developed a very good rapport with Kerala-based Pentecostal sects. This sect, which has spread its roots to northeast, has apparently helped the BJP in winning the northeastern states.
That the BJP is determined to win Kerala and that its president has been doing his homework quite well was quite clear during Amit Shah’s recent visit to the state. He has given specific directions to strengthen the NDA network by getting smaller parties from other fronts. Shah has also told the BJP workers to reach out to larger sections of people, especially those from the minority communities.
"We have been told to expand our mindset. This is important in a state like Kerala where minorities are a strong presence," said P. Sreedharan Pillai, former state BJP president.
Amit Shah, however, is not happy with the performance of the state unit. He is learnt to have given an ultimatum to the state leadership.
Of course, not all of the state leaders are happy. They indirectly blame the central leadership for not understanding the unique difficulties that the party faces in the state.
"Kerala is unlike any other state because of its strong presence of minorities. What works in rest of the country will not work here," said a state-level leader. He pointed out the recent controversy involving beef to buttress the point and said many renowned personalities, who had earlier promised to meet the BJP president, backed off at the last moment due to this controversy.
The peculiar situation of BJP in Kerala was corroborated by M.N. Karassery. "As long as palli and pashu (mosque/church and cow) are there, things are not going to be easy for BJP," he said.
According to party insiders, Kerala is a headache-inducing state for Amit Shah.
"Winning Kerala is an ego issue for the president. It is also one of the toughest states for the BJP to make inroads. At the same time, the state leadership creates countless issues with their rebellion and internal groupism. He almost always loses his cool when he is with them," a Delhi-based BJP leader told the WEEK.
Dr Babu Paul IAS, who was one of the dignitaries called to meet the BJP president, also hinted at the mismatch between Amit Shah’s grand plan of conquering Kerala and the existing political reality. "The BJP central leadership has planned very well and knows what needs to be done in Kerala. But whether Amit Shah’s plans will be translated successfully depends on the state leadership. That remains to be seen," he said.
