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Why Has The BJP Upped The Stakes In Hyderabad?

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2020-12-01 15:17:09

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack

Why has the BJP turned the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, voting for which is taking place today, into a high stakes battle? Among other reasons, the main reason is that the party feels that there is a vacuum in the opposition space with the near annihilation of the TDP-Congress combine and that it is best placed to occupy that space. It also feels that KCR's popularity is at its lowest with the euphoria over him being instrumental in getting the state of Telangana created waning after charges of nepotism and corruption being leveled against KCR and his family. Further, the BJP finds Hyderabad a fertile ground for its brand of polarizing politics (with UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath even suggesting that the city could be renamed) and such division of votes will help it. Finally, it also thinks that if it makes an impact in Hyderabad, given its recent successes in the countryside, it will be able to consolidate and get the much desired foothold in the southern states. It feels that Telangana offers the best opportunity in this regard.

Hence, a galaxy of BJP leaders ranging from Home minister Amit Shah to UP chief minister Adityanath have been campaigning for the party in these local polls. Asaduddin Owaisi (the undisputed strongman of the city) even took a swipe at the party by challenging it to bring Prime Minister Modi to campaign. All those who campaigned for the BJP made sure that they highlighted the closeness between KCR's party, the TRS with Owaisi's (the undisputed strongman of the city) AIMIM, in order to convince the Hindu voter that KCR is guilty of minority appeasement. This has resulted in these polls becoming the most polarizing ones ever. The BJP might mange to get some traction with its strategy but it remains to be seen what damage it does to the social fabric of the vibrant city of Hyderabad. 

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