Hindutva’s Decline in Indian Politics: Takeaway #1 from the 2024 Election Results

Newsreel Asia Insight #242
June 5, 2024

The 2024 election results have dealt a significant blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), shattering its confidence in its ability to mobilise voters using its Hindutva ideology, which promotes Hindu nationalism and marginalises religious minorities. This shift is reflected in the overall results of the election, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, including Ayodhya, a city central to the party’s Hindutva agenda.

Months before the election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a symbol of the BJP’s commitment to Hindutva. The event was marked by a widespread display of saffron flags across the nation, an apparent portrayal of a significant victory of Hindus over the Muslim minority. The saffron flags became a common sight on roads, in residential areas and on vehicles, but in hindsight, these flags did not represent the hearts of the majority of the people in those areas. The BJP has been defeated in the Faizabad constituency, which includes Ayodhya.

The Samajwadi Party’s (SP) Awadhesh Prasad emerged victorious, defeating BJP’s Lallu Singh by a substantial margin. One might think Faizabad district has a large Muslim population. However, Hindus account for 84.75% of the population, while Muslims comprise 14.80%. This loss in a constituency synonymous with the Ram Mandir shows a shift in voter sentiment. The defeat suggests that the electorate, even in Ayodhya, is looking beyond religious symbolism and is possibly disenchanted with the BJP’s focus on Hindutva.

The broader results in Uttar Pradesh further echo this sentiment. The BJP, which once had a stronghold in the state due to its Hindutva ideology, has seen a decline in its appeal. Of the 80 seats in this state, the BJP could win only 33. In the 2019 election, the party had won 63 seats. The SP secured 37 seats, including in key constituencies like Faizabad, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Gonda. The Congress party won 6 seats. This indicates a preference for parties addressing more immediate and pragmatic concerns.

Over the last decade, the BJP has seemingly aimed to instill vicarious pride among India's aspiring citizens, enticing them with a chauvinistic ideology. The party's Hindutva appeal seeks to convince Hindus that they have a reason to be proud of their Hindu identity, despite lacking basic necessities such as a house, safe and sufficient food, water, electricity, quality clothing, or the sophistication of the West. This identity does not inherently imply that the people are entitled to at least good governance. Therefore, the question arises: How long can people maintain pride in their identity when their basic needs are unmet, thus preventing them from living a life of dignity that aligns with their proud identity?

And sadly, this infused identity does not embrace the religious values for which Hinduism is known, such as tolerance. Nor does it incorporate the values of honesty, hard work, and ethics. It is merely a state to achieve, with no role in correcting attitudes or actions.

In 2014, when the BJP was elected, people perhaps believed that the party’s slogan, “Achhe din aane waale hain,” or “Good days are coming,” a sincere promise. A decade later, the BJP’s focus on grand religious gestures has clearly not translated into votes. It appears that local issues and governance have taken precedence for many voters, who may be demanding more than just ideological commitments.

Indian politics needs to reassess its strategies and address the diverse needs of its constituents more effectively. The 2024 election results in Ayodhya and Uttar Pradesh may indicate a broader trend away from Hindutva as a central electoral strategy and towards good governance. People will embrace true pride when their political representatives treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve through effective governance.