BJP's Democratic Posturing & Undemocratic Practice: A Paradox Exposed

In the realm of Indian politics, paradox often masquerades as principle. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) approach to ‘internal democracy’—a party that never tires of proclaiming its commitment to democratic ideals but quietly deviates when power equations demand expediency. The ongoing process—or the carefully staged performance—for “selecting not electing” the new national president of the BJP is a vivid case in point.

Myth vs Reality: BJP’s Claims of Grassroots Elections
The BJP, in its public articulation, presents itself as the paragon of internal democracy. It maintains that elections are held at various levels—booth, district, state, and national—to elevate committed workers to leadership roles. Yet, the reality beneath this democratic veneer reveals a highly centralised decision-making structure, where real power flows from the top—precisely from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leadership.

Attacking Congress While Mimicking Its Model
Ironically, the BJP routinely attacks the Congress for throttling democracy, especially invoking the dark chapter of the 1975 Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. It accuses the grand old party of hereditary politics and organisational stagnation under the Gandhi family’s grip which is hundred percent true but needs self-introspection on this point.

Backroom Deals Behind State Unit Appointments

But here lies the paradox—while the BJP ridicules the Congress for dynastic continuity and lack of internal democracy, it quietly embraces similar methods. The so-called elections to appoint state unit chiefs in critical battlegrounds like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat are being used as a smokescreen...

RSS vs Modi-Shah Duo: Tussle Over the Next President
Sources indicate that the long-pending announcement of the new BJP national president, delayed due to subtle but persistent friction between the RSS and BJP leadership, has culminated in the second week of this month...

BJP president JP Nadda

Nadda’s Tenure: Balance between Ideology and Loyalty
J.P. Nadda, the outgoing president, was a unique consensus candidate. His grassroots beginnings in the Sangh Parivar and longstanding loyalty to the BJP’s central leadership made him acceptable to both camps.

Contenders in Fray: Loyalty Over Popularity
In this context, several names are being bandied about—Shiv Raj Singh Chauhan, B.L. Santosh, the BJP’s organisational general secretary and an RSS appointee; Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupender Yadav, Sunil Bansal... What matters most is not mass popularity but acceptability to the dual power centres.

Dynasty Politics: A Shared Malaise
It is worth noting that while the BJP makes much of its ideological distance from the Congress, its organisational behaviour often mirrors what it criticises. Dynastic politics, for instance, is selectively opposed.

The Age Rule: Applied Selectively for Political Convenience
The much-hyped “75 years age rule”—a policy that supposedly mandates political retirement at the age of 75—has also been applied inconsistently. Leaders like L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were shown the door post-2014.Now RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat has stirred new controversy saying that “when you turn 75, it means you should stop now and make way for others” but will it be applicable to Prime Minister ,Narender Modi who turns 75 in this Sept.?

Strategic Importance of the New President
The present theatre over the national president's selection is also a reflection of the party's preparation for the next phase of its journey...

Optics vs Reality: Manufacturing Consensus
It must also be acknowledged that the BJP, unlike the Congress, possesses an unmatched cadre base and organisational discipline, largely owing to the RSS’s decades-long grassroots work...

Discipline over Dissent: The Fate of Internal Debate
This camouflage of democracy is now institutionalised. BJP’s decisions are taken with precision, speed, and minimal internal dissent unlike Congress.

Stage-Managed Coronation in the Name of Democracy
So, as the BJP gears up to unveil its new president, the façade of democracy will be on full display—complete with congratulatory messages, garlanded leaders, and orchestrated celebrations...

The Bigger Picture: A Democracy Performed, Not Practiced
In the final analysis, both BJP and Congress remain trapped in contradictions of their own making. One wraps undemocratic decisions in the cloth of electoral formalities; the other clings to family legacies...

(Writer is senior political analyst and strategic affairs columnist based in Shimla)