The loss of Gorakhpur and Phulpur was not the only trouble the BJP faced on a turbulent Wednesday. On the same day, VHP president Pravinbhai Togadia reminded his “elder brother” Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the core Hindutva promises that the people were waiting for the latter to fulfil.
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Togadia, who earlier wished Modi on Holi and expressed his desire to meet him, finally wrote another letter to him, reminding the PM of their cordial time together from 1972 to 2005. The VHP chief sounded emotional in his letter as he talked about two friends taking different paths despite both agreeing that their goal was the same.
Given his estranged relationship with Modi for the past 13 years, Togadia is kept at arm's length by the BJP leadership. The BJP has rarely responded on his allegations or public statements. But combined with the Gorakhpur loss, the original Hindutva stronghold since the late sixties, a certain uneasiness is being felt in the right wing circles about some of the main Hindutva issues not being addressed by the Central government despite being in power for four years.
Togadia outlined these core issues, ranging from building Ram Temple, banning cow slaughter, repealing article 370, bringing uniform civil code, relief to farmers, regulating FDI and pushing out of Bangladeshi refugees. These are some of the issues that Shiv Sena, which claims to represent the hardcore Hindu right wing, has been raising to hit out at its ally.
Togadia also raised the issues after the RSS' annual meeting where the decision to give another term to General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi signalled continuity in dealing with the various frontal bodies and affiliated organisations. It was speculated within the Sangh circles that if Joshi were to give way to a new person, its impact would have been felt on other Sangh bodies, including VHP.
The BJP has been increasing its footprint in states ruled by other political parties. But it is feeling that contest in its own backyard was turning tough, be it Gujarat or Gorakhpur. The BJP needs to be wary of growing voices of discontent from its core supporters who voted it to power for realising the “civilizational issues.” The chorus may only grow shriller in the coming days as the party moves towards the next Lok Sabha elections.