BJP is still in the process of gaining a strong base in Meghalaya. But BJP’s tag of being anti-christian has followed the party to Meghalaya. The party is known for its ‘Hindutva’ ideology.
Letting go of its saffron image will not be easy. The Congress picked this point up to its advantage in writing off BJP’s campaign. The party has warned the Christians in the state that BJP will make their lives difficult by putting restrictions on their eating habits. BJP has been calling Congress out for negative campaigning before the 27th February elections. The BJP is, on the other hand, trying to undo the damage done by Congress. They have assured the people that they won’t interfere in what the people will eat and insisted that they are a secular party.
Modi’s idea to change the antichristian image of BJP is to draw on how they had welcomed missionaries into the country. Some references included the rescue of 46 nurses from Iraq, the safe return of Father Alexander Premkumar from captivity in Afghanistan and the release of Father Tom Uzhannalil after a year of captivity in Yemen. These references are being used in a state where 75% of the people are Christian. The BJP is presenting itself a party rather than a religion. The party is drawing on the centre’s pro-Christian activities that people can relate to. They believe the beef ban and such isn’t of importance to the people at the grassroots.
Even in the run-up to Manipur’s elections, the candidates are referring to the party as the Bharatiya Jesus Party rather than the Bharatiya Janata Party. A BJP leader called it the party’s adaptability. But the party’s road is still not cleared to the seat in Meghalaya, because of the Congress hostility and the Church’s apprehensions as well. The fate of the party is now in God’s hands, pun intended.