24/7 work, top netas, ground intelligence: How BJP’s ground game helped it win close fights in the state elections

Before the recent Haryana election, BJP MPs from Uttar Pradesh were deployed throughout the state. One MP rode a motorbike across Karnal, drinking tea at roadside shops and listening to the local buzz. The MP noticed that chief minister Nayab Saini was more popular than his predecessor, Manohar Lal. Accordingly, the election staff was informed and CM Saini was encouraged to talk for only five minutes at public meetings and spend the rest of the time meeting people. The security staff was instructed not to push anyone near the CM, and Saini would willingly take selfies.

This is just one example of how the BJP works during assembly election. Over the past decade, BJP has retained power in 10 states including Goa, Madhya Pradesh, UP and Manipur, where the general perception was against the party.

By contrast, during the 10 years of UPA rule, from 200414, the Congress retained power in 6 states, the last being Assam in 2011.Here’s a closer look at what makes the BJP such an effective election machine:Roundthe year Worker ConnectBJP keeps its enormous network of groundlevel workers electionready by hosting events throughout the year.”We have a wide network of ideologically motivated party workers. We engage with them yearround, not only during elections,” BJP national general secretary Arun Singh to ET.Early Start, Special TeamThe party works 24/7, therefore election preparation has no set start time. Seven to eight months before an election is typical. Early input helps the party address public dissatisfaction. The Madhya Pradesh state government implemented the Ladli Behna Scheme, which the Congress had promised before the election, after this early ground intelligence, party leaders stated. A similar declaration was made in Congressruled Chhattisgarh. Before the Karnataka elections, the BJP government increased Scheduled Caste reservation to 17% from 15% and Scheduled Tribe reservation to 7% from 3%.The BJP has nurtured several election specialists over the years. They include Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupender Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya, and G Kishan Reddy, as well as newcomers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Himanta Biswa Sarma. Early deployment of these leaders allows them to assess the ground situation and develop party strategy for the state. In October 2022, the BJP named Karnataka incharges for May 2023 election. In July 2023, the party named incharges for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, and elections were held in November. For the recent Haryana election, incharges were appointed June 17.Change the FaceOver the last 5 years, BJP has replaced chief ministers in five states before electionsGujarat, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Karnataka, and Haryanaand all but Karnataka have worked for the party. BJP leaders told ET that choosing a new face is complicated. In August 2016, Gujarat’s casteneutral CM Vijay Rupani replaced Anandiben Patel, whose fellow castemen were campaigning for reservation. When the Patels supported the BJP in 2021, the party replaced Rupani with Bhupendra Patel as CM. In 2023, the party promoted Nayab Singh Saini as state unit president in Haryana to consolidate OBC votes. Saini replaced Manohar Lal as CM in January.From Feedback to ExecutionThe BJP’s election organization relies on ground intelligence and planning. The BJP and BJD discussed an alliance during the Odisha assembly election. However, party contact centers across Odisha began recording party workers’ and citizens’ opposition to the agreement. Union home minister Amit Shah, state incharge Sunil Bansal, and others attended an urgent meeting in Delhi. The call center personnel had 24 hours to gather multilevel comments and submit a report. The report prompted the BJP to drop its BJD alliance plan.Field SeniorsThe party fielded seven MPs in the Madhya Pradesh assembly election last year, including three Union ministers and one national general secretary. The experiment worked in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh for the party.

“Senior leaders contesting the election sends a message to workers and citizens that the party is serious. It also shows the party’s united leadership,” Singh told ET.

Rebel ManagementThe BJP manages its rebels much better than other parties. In the recently held Haryana assembly election, there were around 33 rebels from the BJP and 36 from Congress. While both parties tried to manage their rebels, the BJP’s management was better. To persuade senior party leader Ram Vilas Sharma, CM Saini personally visited him. Similarly, party election coincharge Biplav Dev met and persuaded several rebels to withdraw their nominations.