COALITION HIT BJP HARD IN GUJ
The saffron party’s rivals feel that after the BJP’s “poor performance” in Gujarat, it “will go full steam ahead to polarise the nation”, and also push the “triple talaq bill”.
With its victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continued its winning streak. But its win by a slender margin in the Prime Minister’s home turf of Gujarat has put the party back into introspection mode.
Sensing that demonetisation and GST had hit the party hard in Gujarat, the ruling party is expected to go soft on reforms, sources said. The RSS and a major section of the BJP had begun nudging the government to settle the Ram Mandir dispute and build a “magnificent Ram temple” in Ayodhya before the 2019 general election.
It was learnt that after Monday’s results, the contentious Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill may not be introduced in Parliament even in the Budget Session. The “bail in clause” in FRDI had evoked angry reactions. Analysts have argued that the “bail in clause” meant that creditors and depositors were expected to absorb losses in case of a bank failure. This had raised concerns that ordinary citizens may have to bail out banks with their hardearned savings in case a bank goes under. Despite the government’s attempts to allay such concerns, the entire controversy refuses to die down.
Another proposed reform which could get hit is linking property with Aadhaar to curb black money in real estate. The government has already been forced to extend the deadline to link Aadhaar with bank accounts, mobile phone connections and financial instruments to March 31, 2018. Some analysts are warning that it could be the next major thing to hit the economy after demonetisation and GST — as a huge number of people have not yet linked their financial instruments with Aadhaar.
The BJP analysts have cautioned the government that these could have an adverse impact in the 2019 general election.
Sources said the Centre may move at breakneck speed now to settle the Ayodhya dispute and set up the Ram Mandir. This move is likely to consolidate the Hindu votebank, cutting across caste lines. The BJP and RSS believe the Ram Mandir remains an “emotive issue” for “Hindus in Bharat”.