With the election just eight months away, the hesitation in projecting a face is understandable— ambition runs high in the state unit and factional rivalries could affect the party’s prospects. The flip side of dithering over that choice is that it might firm up popular perception that the BJP is yet to strike a chord in Bengal. Chances are indeed high that the BJP will ultimately fall back, as usual, on that solitary failsafe option of projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and hope that he will carry the day. Even at risk of lending credence to the ruling Trinamool Congress’s narrative that the “Hindi heartland party” has little knowledge or understanding of Bengali culture, its ethos and its icons. The delay in projecting a bankable Bengali face is certainly raising doubts, especially among the intelligentsia, over how keen the BJP really is about its Bengal project.
This story is from the September 07, 2020 edition of India Today.
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This story is from the September 07, 2020 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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