Why Brahmins and Other Communities Vote for the BJP: Understanding the Political Landscape of Modern India
It is often mistakenly suggested that the backward caste (BC) and other middle backward castes (MBC) communities are not intelligent and can easily be manipulated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, such assumptions are far from the truth. The BJP's success in securing the support of Brahmins and other communities is multifaceted and rooted in a strategic political understanding and socio-economic initiatives.
The BJP and Its Social Base Expansion
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has primarily been considered the party of upper castes, particularly Brahmins. However, in the 2019 General Election, the party managed to secure a significant victory by expanding its social base. This was achieved through a deliberate strategy aimed at moving beyond its traditional upper caste and urban voter base to include a broader spectrum of Indian society.
The party's various schemes, such as Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), have played a crucial role in winning the hearts of the rural and lower middle-class voters. These schemes offer tangible benefits like clean cooking gas, improved housing facilities, and better sanitation, all of which appeal to a wide range of voters.
Electoral Success and Voter Intelligence
During the 2019 General Election, the BJP's win was not merely a result of opportunistic political maneuvering but rather a confluence of strategic initiatives and genuine appeal to the masses. The party's focus on expanding its social base allowed it to secure increased vote shares in both rural and urban constituencies. The rise of its vote share in rural constituencies was by 6.8%, in semi-urban constituencies by 3.5%, and in urban constituencies by 2.2%. This demonstrates a clear shift in voter behavior, with a growing number of voters from various socio-economic backgrounds choosing to support the BJP.
Moreover, the beneficiaries of these schemes, predominantly from socio-economically disadvantaged groups such as Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), BCs, and MBCs, have shown a higher tendency to vote for the BJP. The CSDS-Lokniti surveys indicate that these beneficiaries tended to vote for the BJP in greater numbers compared to non-beneficiaries. This trend was particularly evident during the Covid-19 pandemic when the government provided monetary and food supplies to these categories of people, further solidifying their support for the BJP.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
Therefore, it is essential to recognize that the Brahmins and other communities have shown political intelligence in their voting behavior. They have not been fooled but have chosen to support the BJP due to the tangible benefits they have received and the hope for a better future. This trend is likely to continue in the upcoming 2024 election, as the BJP is expected to consolidate its support from various socio-economic segments of society.