“Whether they win, whether they lose, the BJP is going to be the centre of Indian polity – like it was for the Congress for the first 40 years [of India’s post-colonial history]. The BJP is going nowhere.”
So said Prashant Kishor, a renowned political strategist-turned-activist, two years ago as he tried to explain why the Bharatiya Janata Party’s thumping victories in the country’s 2014 and 2019 general elections were no flukes.
That Mr Kishor spoke in future tense, however, pointed to something more interesting: that the BJP was still in expansion mode, and that it was still on its way to becoming a genuine pan-India party like the Congress had been in its heyday.
As the six-week general election begins with the first phase of voting tomorrow, the question is not so much whether the BJP will once again emerge as the single-largest party in the Lok Sabha, as the lower house of Parliament is called. That seems to be the most likely outcome, according to several surveys carried out in recent months. Instead, the focus among pundits and the public has been on whether the party can break new ground to win large numbers of seats in India’s south, east and north-east. The jury is still out on this question.
The BJP’s recent electoral successes at all levels of government rest partly on the notion that Hindu nationalism, an ideology long championed by the right-wing party, has finally captured India’s political and cultural zeitgeist. Other factors include Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and his government’s efficient delivery of welfare schemes for the most marginalised sections of society.
However, what is often underappreciated is the fact that these wins are the result of the BJP’s years-long efforts to expand its voter base, particularly in the north and west.
Long pigeonholed as the party of the upper and middle castes, it has worked assiduously to bring millions of voters from myriad lower caste groups into its fold. The brute majorities in the 543-strong Lok Sabha – 282 seats in 2014 and 303 seats in 2019 – are simply a reflection of the truism that, in politics, there is strength in numbers.
Now Mr Modi wants to go even further. Earlier this year, he announced that his target for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was to win 400 seats (including 370 seats for his own party). The announcement was regarded as an attempt to boost the morale of fellow leaders, the cadre and ultimately the voter base – and to snuff out any whiff of complacency from within the party ranks. More importantly, it may have served to demoralise the Congress-led “India” coalition by creating a narrative, in the media and among voters, that victory for the NDA is inevitable.
The focus among pundits and the public has been on whether the BJP can break new ground to win large numbers of seats in India’s south, east and north-east. The jury is still out on this question
Many theories swirl around the figure of 400, one of which is that Mr Modi seeks a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha that would help his government pass important constitutional amendments. This idea has scared some parties and their supporters who worry that the BJP will take away certain provisions protecting affirmative action, or that checks and balances will be removed to accumulate power in the executive. BJP leaders, including Mr Modi himself, have vociferously denied any such plans.
Whatever its compulsions, winning 400 seats – a mark that’s been breached just once before, by the Congress in 1984 – is an extremely tall order. But getting as close to this figure as possible is crucial for the BJP to realise its ambition of becoming a pan-national party. To achieve this, it would have to win over large swathes of voters outside the Hindi heartland, where there is little scope for it to improve its tally.
The problem for the BJP is that the southern and eastern regions are decidedly more liberal and have distinct ethnic, linguistic and societal differences that make it difficult for any party with strong ideological moorings to grow. The BJP, for instance, cannot win there by appealing to religious sentiments, by calling for a ban on the sale of beef or by insisting that the Hindi language be imposed in state school curriculums – all core issues close to the party faithful’s hearts.
This has forced the party to diversify its agenda, even at the risk of diluting its Hindutva ideology, particularly in the southern states and territories where Mr Modi has been campaigning strenuously to improve on the BJP’s 2019 tally of just 30 seats. His colleagues have in recent years even made outreach efforts to certain disaffected caste groups as well as Christian minorities, especially in the state of Kerala, where they know they cannot rely on simply courting the “Hindu” vote.
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But as it turns out, when one part of the country sneezes, another part catches a cold. Months-long violence in the north-eastern state of Manipur, where the BJP is in power, has created ripples in faraway Kerala. The riots between the Meitei people, who are predominantly Hindu, and the Kuki-Zo tribal community, a majority of whom are Christian, have given pause to some of the largest and most powerful church groups in Kerala that had previously gravitated towards the BJP. Herein lies a palpable tension at the heart of India’s governing party.
On the one hand, it has been expanding its tent by bringing in parties with small but critical vote bases into the NDA. It has also been aggressively co-opting leaders from other parties and movements, as well as those representing farming lobbies, religious minorities and tribal groups. On the other hand, however, it has strived to remain committed to its ideological core and stay faithful to its vote base by appealing to their Hindu cultural identity. Mr Modi’s inauguration of a temple in the northern city of Ayodhya was key to this strategy.
No one can quibble with Mr Kishor’s assertion about the BJP’s pre-eminence in Indian politics. But how Mr Modi and his colleagues manage the many competing interests, narratives and newly acquired leaders from outside their core base will determine the success or failure of the party’s expansionary project across the large, diverse and complex country that is India.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Blonde
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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RESULTS
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Kanye%20West
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Schedule
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CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20QUALIFIER%2C%20ZIMBABWE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%20%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMonday%2C%20June%2019%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESri%20Lanka%20v%20UAE%2C%20Queen%E2%80%99s%20Sports%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20June%2021%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOman%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFriday%2C%20June%2023%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EScotland%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETuesday%2C%20June%2027%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIreland%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPECS
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
