BJP's social engineering triumphs in Haryana

From social realignment to strategic gains, BJP's decadelong plan bears fruit.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

CHANDIGARH Defying the odds and overturning Haryana's traditional political power dynamics, the BJP has staged an extraordinary political transformation in Haryana-turning it into a fertile ground for the saffron lotus to bloom consistently and sturdily.

Defying the challenges posed by the farmers' agitation and widespread criticism of the Agniveer scheme, the saffron party has carved out an enduring stronghold through strategic social engineering, meticulous planning, and an unwavering focus on nonJat communities, especially on OBCs, Dalits and Brahmins. In a historic move, the BJP has managed to secure a third consecutive term in the state-an achievement considered near-impossible just a decade ago.

Haryana, known for producing every tenth soldier in the Indian Army and once the epicentre of the 2020-21 farmers' protests, presented formidable obstacles for the BJP. Yet, the party's ability to weather these storms and entrench itself in power is a testament to its transformative strategies. Haryana, where BJP had virtually no major presence before 2014, has now been seen as a stronghold of the BJP, thanks to the party's well calculated shift toward non-Jat and OBC communities, alongside its strategy of sidelining the once-dominant Jat-centric political order.

A DECADE OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING

Historically, Haryana's political landscape was dominated by Jat stalwarts like Devi Lal, Bansi Lal, O.P.

Chautala, and Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who ruled for over 33 years between 1967 and 2014. However, the 2014 Modi wave changed the political calculus. For the first time, the BJP swept the state, marking the beginning of a new political order. In all the three elections BJP's vote share in Haryana continued to rise from 33.20% in 2014, to 36.49% in 2019 and reached 39.09% in 2024.