As the month of Ramadan progresses and Eid al-Fitr approaches, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its efforts to engage with the Muslim community. In a strategic move, the party’s Minority Morcha has launched the ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ programme, distributing Eid gifts on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the country.
According to BJP Minority Morcha National President Jamal Siddiqui, the initiative aims to extend outreach to minorities beyond just Muslims, with plans to be present during other religious festivals as well. Under this programme, the BJP will distribute 32 lakh gift packets, primarily targeting economically disadvantaged Muslim families. The initiative, which began in Delhi, includes food and women’s clothing in each gift box.
For years, the BJP maintained a political distance from minorities, particularly Muslims. However, a shift in approach became evident in 2022 when, during the party’s National Working Committee meeting in Hyderabad, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the need to consider the well-being of minorities alongside the majority community. He urged the party to focus on the economically weaker sections of minorities, marking a turning point in BJP’s political strategy.
Following Modi’s speech, the BJP began efforts to engage with the Pasmanda Muslim community — socially and economically backward Muslims —particularly in Uttar Pradesh. After a resounding victory in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, BJP leaders claimed that a segment of the Muslim electorate had contributed to their success. The party backed this claim with booth-level data showcasing a shift in Muslim voting patterns.
Encouraged by Modi’s directive, BJP’s strategy to woo minorities has extended beyond Uttar Pradesh. While staying rooted in its Hindutva ideology, the party has started projecting a more inclusive image towards minorities. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP’s Minority Morcha has worked to highlight Modi’s positive approach towards non-Hindus, though Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has maintained that he can secure electoral victories without Muslim support.
The upcoming Bihar assembly elections in November hold significant weight for BJP, given the crucial role of Muslim voters in the state’s electoral landscape. The party sees Muslim outreach as a vital step in countering the strong vote base of its rival, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Additionally, BJP has made inroads into RJD’s traditional Yadav voter base, aiming to further disrupt its support structure.
“Minorities form nearly 17 per cent of the state’s total electorates. There are 50 to 60 Assembly seats out of 243 where Muslims are deciding factors in electoral battles. In the Seemanchal region, Muslims play a crucial role in the election results. The newly initiated outreach drive will me aimed to woo the support of the minorities who are financially stressed,” said a BJP leader.
Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the BJP has targeted Muslim voters across economic classes, signaling an aggressive outreach campaign.
“Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) is enjoying en bloc support of Muslim voters who form 30 per cent of the state’s total electorates. Our prime target will be causing a dent on the ruling TMC’s minority vote-bank by launching the outreach drive on the occasion of the upcoming religious festival,” said a senior BJP leader in Kolkata.
Political analysts remain skeptical of the BJP’s newfound engagement with minorities. Some view the initiative as an attempt to polarise Hindu votes by creating divisions within the Muslim electorate. Given BJP’s historical stance, doubts persist regarding the sincerity of its outreach efforts towards the Muslim community.
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