When Sushma Swaraj wrote for THE WEEK: ‘Different party, different people’

The Bharatiya Janata Party has always projected itself as ‘a party with a difference’. It steered away from dynastic leadership and pledged to make mass leaders relevant. The party has internalised democracy in the form of collective decision-making, whereby the organisation and cadre are the dominant players and posts are not the legacy of a chosen few by virtue of their birth. Therefore, Atal Bihari Vajpayee coined this phrase that articulated the philosophy of the party.

Today, after 30 years of the party's existence, the BJP has been able to live up to what its founders envisaged at the time of its inception. In the BJP, there is no cap on the growth of its members. The top posts are not reserved for members of any particular family. Even a simple karyakarta, with dedication, hard work and merit, can reach the pinnacle. The post of the party president has been held by illustrious people, but they all had one thing in common—none of them boasted a famous pedigree. Be it Vajpayee, who is the son of a teacher, or L.K. Advani, a self-made man, Kushabhau Thakre, Jana Krishnamurthy, Bangaroo Lakshman, Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh and now Nitin Gatkari—these are people who came from diverse backgrounds, but have had the opportunity to lead the party. This inspires confidence in the younger generation and among our ordinary karyakarta that, in the BJP, there is genuine scope for everyone to rise to the top.

In India, the majority of the parties are dominated by a single leader. The BJP is a party of collective leadership. The decision-making process in the party is one involving discussion and exchange of ideas in a group where the whims of individuals take a back seat. On a number of occasions, I have seen stalwarts like Vajpayeeji and Advaniji giving in graciously to the collective will. The BJP has a strong internal democratic process, from the grassroots to the apex. The collective takes into account the voice of all, but ensures against imposition of one.

The party cadre and mass support are the two wheels that carry the BJP forward. The organisation and masses share a symbiotic relationship. While leaders provide ‘face value’, it is the tireless efforts of the organisation that garner mass support. The BJP cadre, like Atlas, stabilise the party by shouldering its weight. The success in the Bihar elections is a recent example—the cadre fought the election and the masses supported us. Leaders of substance, a committed cadre and a large support base make the BJP a party with a difference.

Today, the BJP is ruling in seven states, all of which are known for their development models. These states have embodied the idea of general welfare in their administration. On the one hand are the successful programmes for uplifting the poor while on the other, international acclaim for the global outlook of these pro-industry states. The BJP understands the dichotomous India that exists today. The gorge between the haves and the have-nots has never been so wide. Having a pro-developmental outlook satisfies the ambitions of urban India, while understanding rural needs and having compassion to provide for people below the poverty line, make the BJP a party with a difference.

In the six years at the Centre, the BJP-led NDA government had shown governance with a difference. Successfully managing the contradictions of a coalition, the NDA government ran a clean administration, unblemished by any scam. The UPA rule, on the other hand, is tarnished by a series of ghotalas and scandals.

The BJP's approach to foreign policy is another aspect that differentiates it from the rest. We had a very amiable relationship with the west and an unwavering commitment to India's sovereignty. This is especially exhibited in the Pokhran tests in 1998. A nuclear deterrent was quintessential to India's defence. The BJP took the decision to conduct the tests and, as expected, the US imposed sanctions against India. Despite these sanctions, President Clinton visited India paving the path for a strong Indo-US friendship.

Today, the BJP is the principal opposition party in Parliament. What sets us apart is that we have vowed to offer constructive opposition to the government. In all the previous sessions of the 15th Lok Sabha, we have followed this principle in letter and spirit. However, on the issue of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe corruption, there is unprecedented unity in the Opposition. The obstinate attitude of the government is squarely responsible for the non-functioning of Parliament. This is a serious issue and we simply cannot allow the government to brush it under the carpet. Otherwise what will be the difference between them and us?

The article originally appeared on The Week's December 26, 2010 issue. Swaraj was leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha at the time.