Constructing the Nation: The BJP's Project to Remake Indian Identity

By Manoj Kumar Mishra

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) success in the 2024 General Elections and in state elections in five states in 2026 points to the party's success in constructing identity politics in its favour. This success is ascribed to the ways in which it has defeated the politics of recognition of the Congress Party and the caste politics of several regional parties, while depoliticising and naturalising its own version of national identity. The party's broad narrative, crafted around India's civilisational identity, delivers the message of a united, strong and prosperous India rising above family based politics, corruption and vote-bank politics. The umbrella tradition of Hinduism has been structured to motivate people around pre-modern images, ideas and ethos such as Bharat Mata, the Ramayana and Sri Ram, the Bhagavad Gita, Vedantic philosophy, Yoga and Ayurveda, reconciled with modern norms of unity, strength, development and dignity. This book explores how the BJP constructs national identity.