Why are many Hindus unhappy with the BJP?
Virender Kapoor
Upward trajectory of Hindustan
Politics and perception go hand in hand. In fact, politics needs to build a perception around its stated goals, generally listed in the manifesto and augmented through vocal and virtual signalling.
Among the two parties, Congress and BJP, along with their partners, BJP is viewed by Hindus as a party for nation-building and resurrecting our heritage. Hindus are also in their comfort zone when we talk about Bharat, and the word is embedded in Bharatiya Janata Party. There is a solid bond between the two, and this cannot be denied and should not be denied either.
Perceptions and narratives are emotional, and a common man on the street is neither really interested in data points, nor he/she is capable of interpreting them. Experience shows that most reputed and experienced psephologists who analysed only data went totally wrong in the past; West Bengal is a recent example.
Even then, I would illustrate with some macro-level data how Hindus have supported BJP.
The broad pointers are given below.
In the 2024 general elections, the BJP received a total of 235.9 million votes (23,59,73,935 votes), translating to a nationwide vote share of 36.56%. According to national post-poll survey data from Lokniti-CSDS, roughly 52% to 54% of all Hindu voters across India backed the BJP.
This also means around 46% of Hindus did not support the BJP!
In absolute terms, out of the total ~646 million votes cast nationwide, approximately 510–520 million came from Hindu voters.
The BJP captured roughly 80% to 85% of its total vote bank from the Hindu population.
In absolute terms, out of the total ~646 million votes cast nationwide, approximately 510–520 million came from Hindu voters.
This clearly indicates the significant support of Hindus.Of course, it also reflects that voters are very happy with major victories like Ram Mandir and the abrogation of Article 370.
There is no denying that big-ticket stuff like eradicating Naxals and economic growth has put the nation on a much higher pedestal internationally. The nation has become safe from internal sabotage like bomb blasts, and we are now taking a defensive offensive stance- Operation ‘Sindoor’ is a case in point. Infrastructure development is so huge that it is in your face, and one has to be blind not to see it or appreciate it.
“You find someone willing to go through hell just to keep your relationship alive, NEVER take their love for granted.”
Hindu ko gussa kyun Ataah hai?
The call ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’ is a very nice-sounding slogan. As the government at the centre, you cannot do ‘bhed bhav’ or treat people differently. Indian politics in the last seventy years or so has seen a lot of toxicity through games of secularism and vote-block management through caste and religion – especially religion. Congress did it without any pretence or regret. They did it openly and still do it.
Yes, you want to be different, and any person projecting himself as a statesman needs to do it, but one has to be balanced in action and spirit. The Hindus have started feeling that the BJP is taking them for granted. Thanks to social media and podcasts, this feeling has caught on. Several groups like the Jaipur Dialogues are consistently discussing issues of national interest, including ‘batenge to katenge’.
One often remembers the ‘infamous’ quote of MK Gandhi, in contrast to the present mood of people;
“Hindus should not harbour anger in their hearts against Muslims even if the latter wanted to destroy them. Even if the Muslims want to kill us all, we should face death bravely. If they established their rule after killing Hindus, we would be ushering in a new world by sacrificing our lives.”
The Gandhi name in the last decade has got its due share of wrath and flak from the 1.4 billion people- thanks to social media- and it is a rap on the knuckles, of course, reflecting the changing mood of the nation. The change in mood is largely due to efforts made by political leaders who have unapologetically taken a bold stance of saying what needs to be said. We need more of such vocal leaders who call a spade a spade. This is a vote-catcher and no longer a negative for the political leaders.
The nation that is largely of Hindus has been very tolerant right from the time of independence. Although you have a breed called ‘Modi Bhakts’, they too are human beings and fully understand that between those who govern and those who are governed is always a two-way street. If you do not treat bhakts properly, they may walk out of your hallowed temple.
Hindus do not want you to cut corners on the welfare of ‘others’ but want what is theirs as a right and as they were promised.
Let me put forth a few major points of concern for the Hindu community, who, because of these, feel discriminated against.
- Freeing Hindu Temples and other institutions from State Control
Under Article 26 of the Indian Constitution, religious minorities have the right to manage their own institutions, while state governments control thousands of major Hindu temples (such as in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh) through various Endowments Acts. Traditionalists argue that despite having consecutive clear majorities, the BJP failed to pass central legislation or mandate state governments to free Hindu temples and their financial assets from bureaucratic state administration.
Articles 29 and 30 grant minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions without government interference and with autonomy over admissions and staff selection. Right-wing Hindu commentators argue these provisions create an uneven playing field that disadvantages Hindu-run educational institutions, which remain strictly regulated under general government rules.
- Critics from conservative Hindu groups contend that the Ministry of Minority Affairs continues to run targeted financial, educational, and welfare schemes exclusively for minority communities. Opponents argue that welfare should be strictly based on socio-economic need rather than religious identity, accusing the BJP of continuing “appeasement politics” (often pejoratively termed Maulana Modi jibes by radical factions).
- Delay and Compromises on the National Register of Citizens (NRC)
- Perceived Neglect of General Category Hindu Interests. The government’s outreach to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs)—including overriding a Supreme Court order to restore strict provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act—alienated sections of the upper-caste Hindu electorate. Many upper-caste voters felt that their long-standing support for the party was taken for granted while policy focused primarily on caste-based welfare outreach. This is a reality.
- Dilution of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Push
Although the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code remains a founding commitment of the BJP, its implementation has largely been left to individual states (such as Uttarakhand) rather than introduced as a comprehensive central law.
Hindu voters feel that the government is pussyfooting and is being too cautious.
I also feel that Hindus have let down the BJP in terms of a ‘split opinion’ or a split stance where the entire mass has not stood with them, voting in one solid block for the BJP. If this happens, it will be a very big game changer, good for Bharat and good for the majority.
Hindus pray
Hindu samaaj would never like you to give less to others, but what is rightfully theirs should not be denied. These are the issues that do not require any additional financial allocation, which normally is the stumbling block for taking a major decision.
If your government has done seemingly impossible tasks like abrogation of Article 370 and creation of Ram Mandir, these issues should not be difficult to resolve. Even if they are, the samaaj expects that this be done without any delay.
In the larger scheme of things, it will only benefit the BJP electorally.
If you do this ASAP, you can turn the tide fully in the favour of Bharat.
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
— Desmond Tutu
