The How and What of Winning the 2019 General Elections

Three years since winning the 2014 General Elections, there is a sense of wariness and disappointment amongst the supporters of BJP that the leadership has not succeeded in capitalising the gains and advantages that have flown in since the 2014 victory. 

Over the last three years, the narrative has shifted from collective and united front and effort where the party and the national executive would hold supreme to cotereisms and individual glorification. These are imminent signs that the BJP is losing its core values and could be heading for a resounding defeat in 2019.

Undoubtedly, the present leadership has done some good work for India, but what stands out is that it has undermined team efforts and the benefits of collective wisdom.

However, in exceptional cases, sometimes it is better to be led by individual conviction than collective consensus.

Under the present circumstances, the BJP is fast losing its high moral ground and lead as a party with a difference given the debate and discussions on social media, the press, the broadcast and TV media, as also amongst the general public. 

The party is being viewed as violently vindictive, intolerant towards divergent viewpoints, a slaggard, and as an ineffective media machinery handler.

Here are 10 things the BJP must do to regain ground over the next 2 years of the current term:

1. The Prime Minister must take the lead in taking head on contentious issues and should be present during stormy times and not preoccupy himself during difficult situations.

2. The intellectual assault on the Opposition must be led by BJP's authoritative and articulate frontleaders/men on the media and in public rallies platform.

3. The Prime Minister must come out openly in time against disturbing and peace shattering events and developments.

4. All ministries of the BJP govt both at the Centre and states must effectively project their achievements through the media and public rallies.

5. The BJP must ensure clarity and articulate a purpose in its policies and actions even if it means letting go old held beliefs and systems.

6. The BJP must give credit to the good points in all other religions especially Christianity and Islam.

7. The BJP must honour members from other faith who have worked for the good of the country and who have been friends of the Hindu community.

8. The BJP must build bridges with leading members of other religions and should find common grounds rather than having a confrontationist attitude.

9. It is the right and the prerogative of the ruling party to appoint its ideologically aligned stalwarts in senior positions in institutions and other high offices and it should do it with speed and not be apologetic about it.

10. The RSS, VHP and ABHM must inculcate in Indian Hindu children, men and women a pride for Hinduism and must develop in them discipline, hardwork, and a martial attitude.

Six things the RSS, VHP, ABHM and the BJP must do to win the 2019 General Elections.

1. The current leadership has done what it could and it must now make way for a new wave of leadership which is young, and is rooted in tradition with a modern and a global outlook.

2. The Prime Ministerial candidate must have served at least 4 terms in the Lok Sabha, must have a record of protecting Hindu interests and serving the larger interests of the country, must be a team player to the core, must be suitably qualified with the right academic credentials.

3. Tickets for the 2019 General Elections must be stringently given on the basis of work track record and a written test and interview.

4. Every elected MP must be supported by a team of experts from the defence, economic, management, scientific, business communities.

5. The RSS, VHP, ABHM, and the BJP must undertake a hugely conducted subscription and membership drive.

6. The RSS, VHP, ABHM, BJP must issue a whitepaper on where it wants India to be in 2024 and 2029.