Nanubhai Vanani’s recent expression of discontent over the state of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) isn’t merely a lament—it’s a reflection of deeper disillusionment felt by many of the party’s foundational members. His concerns point squarely to a transformation that traces back to the rise of leaders like Narendra Modi and C.R. Paatil.
Once upon a time, the BJP was a party that prided itself on collective strength over individual charisma. From the tallest leaders to the humblest foot soldiers, the mantra was clear: the party is supreme, not the individual. Today, media narratives have flipped that ethos on its head—Modi is portrayed as supreme, and the BJP, diminished.
There was a time when a BJP gathering was called a party meeting or a family assembly—a warm, inclusive environment led by stalwarts like Mangalsen Chopra, Fakirbhai Chauhan, and Hemantbhai Chapatwala. The slogan “My home is the BJP’s home” wasn’t a marketing ploy—it was a conviction. Now, with the dominance of centralized leadership, such as under Paatil’s tenure, the gatherings are dubbed “Modi parivar sabhas.” While the party boasts being the largest political organization in the world, its leaders seem increasingly narrow-minded, driven more by self-interest than service.
The ideological span of the BJP has shrunk, once rooted in the philosophies of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, now appearing to revolve solely around Modi’s persona. The shift has alienated many long-standing karyakartas, leaving them dejected, disengaged, and sidelined during election cycles. Technological changes and evolving communication strategies are inevitable, but ideological compromise is not.
Another troubling evolution is the “professionalization” of politics. Today’s political class often comes from backgrounds in IT, medicine, law, or academia. They enter politics claiming motives of public service and anti-corruption, yet outcomes rarely align with these declarations. Corruption thrives. Suffering persists.
Professional politicians tend to drift wherever opportunity shines brighter. Party-hopping intensifies during election seasons. When these individuals join a party, they extol its ideology and internal culture. When they exit, they decry the same values they once praised—accusing the former party of authoritarianism and ideological confusion. We've heard this from figures like Arjun Modhwadia, CJ Chavda, Jawahar Chavda, and Hardik Patel. In truth, these shifts are not driven by ideology, but by career calculus.
The BJP, being a dominant force, attracts leaders from weaker parties seeking political and economic security. This trend marks a stark departure from earlier times when leaders joined parties out of a commitment to values, not survival. Back then, principles mattered. Today, it seems, being a political pauper carries more currency than being a principled leader.
In this era of political convenience, the soul of ideological politics is at risk. It’s a shift that calls not just for introspection, but for realignment—with values over personalities, and purpose over opportunism.
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*Senior Gujarat-based journalist
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