How much has BJP’s Campaign Changed After First Phase of Voting? Insights from PM Modi, Amit Shah, and CM Yogi’s Statements

Elections 2024 BJP Campaign: Low voting in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections has forced the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to change its strategy. The issues that were silent till now are being heard more in the party’s national campaign. 

Actually, voting took place on 102 Lok Sabha seats of the country on Friday (April 19). A 4 percent drop was recorded in the voting of these 102 seats, after which the issue of low voting dominated from media to social media.

On Saturday, the day after the first phase of voting, political experts interpreted it differently. Many people attributed the low voting percentage to the indifference among the core voters and workers of the ruling party.

This discussion was going on when Prime Minister Modi started speaking on core issues in his old style in Banswara, Rajasthan. In this rally, PM simultaneously mentioned Muslims, Ramnavami and appeasement of Congress.

Following the example of the PM, senior BJP leaders also started raising issues that were buried under the slogans of ‘Developed India’, ‘400 seats crossed’ and ‘third largest economy’ for the last 5 years. 

How much has BJP’s campaign changed?

After the first phase of elections, BJP’s star campaigner Narendra Modi has held rallies in Banswara, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, Surguja, Mahasamund and Janjgir-Champa in Chhattisgarh.

Prime Minister Modi has changed the direction of BJP’s campaign with his speeches in these rallies. The Prime Minister is giving priority to 4 major issues in his speeches-

1. Raising the issue of hard Hindutva- 

After the first phase of elections, Prime Minister Modi has started raising the issue of hard Hindutva. The PM is targeting the Congress by mentioning Ram Navami and Hanuman Chalisa in his rallies.

During a rally in Janjgir Lok Sabha seat, PM Modi said that even reading Hanuman Chalisa was a crime during Congress rule. You will not be able to follow your faith during Congress rule.

At the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur rally, Modi said- During Congress rule, even taking the name of Ram was considered a crime. Here, Ramnavami processions were banned.

2. Showing the fear of Muslims – 

After the first phase, the fear of Muslims is being directly shown in the campaign of BJP, especially Prime Minister Modi.

Addressing a rally in Banswara, Rajasthan, Prime Minister Modi said- If Congress comes to power, your property will be distributed among people who have more children. These people are infiltrators of the country. Will you accept giving your property to Muslims?

In Lucknow, UP CM Yogi Adityanath mentioned Sharia law. In his address, Yogi said that if Congress comes to power, it will implement Sharia law.

3. Sharpening the issues of terrorism and nationalism- 

After the first phase of elections, BJP has started sharpening the issues of nationalism and terrorism in its campaigning. From the Prime Minister to the Home Minister, everyone is giving more importance to these issues in their rallies.

At the Mahasamund rally, Prime Minister Modi said that many countries of the world want a weak government to be formed in India so that their plans can be fulfilled easily. Would you like this?

In the Allapuzha rally, Amit Shah cornered the Congress on the issue of terrorism. According to Shah, the Congress and the Communist Party together are providing shelter to terrorist organizations in Kerala.

Addressing the people in the rally, Shah said that to fulfill the politics of appeasement, Congress is also supporting terrorist organizations like PFI. 

4. Giving assurance of not changing the constitution- 

Before the first phase of elections, many BJP leaders linked the slogan of 400 plus to changes in the constitution. The opposition made it a big issue and linked this Lok Sabha fight to the fight to save the constitution.

After the sluggish voting in the first phase, senior BJP leaders have become vocal about this and are raising this issue in every rally. In the Chhattisgarh rally, Prime Minister Modi himself said that the Constitution will not be changed. 

PM Modi said- Whenever elections come, the Congress people keep playing the same old tape recorder. BJP people will come and end the constitution, BJP people will come and end reservation. For how long will you keep spreading lies. Remember one thing of mine, forget about Modi, even if Baba Saheb Ambedkar himself comes and says so, no one can change the constitution.

Amit Shah was also heard strongly saying in his rally that the Constitution should not be tampered with.

Till April 22, BJP was sharing a lot of things mentioned in its manifesto from its official handle, but since last 2 days, the mention of manifesto has been missing from the party’s social media .

Similarly, earlier after every rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used to make the workers raise the slogan of ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’, but after the first phase of elections, this has been stopped. 

Now at the end of every rally, the PM is appealing to the workers to get maximum votes.