dailyO
Politics

Does Tejasvi Surya offer a promise of change or a politics of binaries?

Advertisement
Vandana
VandanaMar 29, 2019 | 10:35

Does Tejasvi Surya offer a promise of change or a politics of binaries?

The top leadership of the BJP reportedly chose 28-year-old Tejasvi Surya to contest from Bangalore South — in an apparent bid to ensure dynastic politics does not take over the party ethos.

tej-690_032819024122.jpg
Young, yes. New ideas? Let's see — BJP Lok Sabha Candidate from Bangalore South, Tejasvi Surya. (Source: PTI)

His name was announced even as Tejaswini Kumar, wife of senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar, had reportedly been preparing to contest the polls as the BJP candidate. Ananth Kumar had won the Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore South six times, and after his death following a long battle with cancer in 2018, it was thought that his wife would be given the party ticket in 2019. Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa had even publicly backed Tejaswini’s candidature.

Advertisement

So, when Surya’s candidature was announced, many, including Surya himself, were caught by surprise.

Surya’s tweet on getting to know about the decision shows the enthusiasm of a driven and motivated youngster.

He is presently the general secretary of the BJP's Youth Wing and part of the party’s national social media team. Many say it's Surya’s oratorical skills that have helped him win the party ticket. The entry of young people into politics is also seen as a window for change. This is based on the assumption that young people would bring fresh energy and brighter ideas to the table. On that count, Surya’s entry is certainly a welcome step.

For the BJP to give Surya a chance in order to discourage dynastic politics is also commendable.

However, the young leader’s history of ‘provocative speeches’ is drawing sharp criticism from some quarters as well.

Advertisement

The most recent of his speeches to have hit the headlines is one where Surya says, “This election is a test of the common Indian’s patriotism. And if you are with Modi, you are with India. If you are not with Modi, you are anti-India. That’s it.”

The speech has been a hit with BJP voters, of course. But it has raised concerns about further divisiveness in an already polarised election environment.

In Karnataka, such polarisation has a history of turning violent.

In 2017, Surya was booked for making a speech with the intent to allegedly incite people following the murder of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker. Reportedly, Surya called the then-Congress government in Karnataka ‘eunuchs’ in a video widely shared on social media shortly after the murder.

The case against Surya was quashed by the Karnataka High Court in April 2018, on the grounds that the police has apparently failed to inform a local magistrate before taking it up.

Advertisement

Surya has led many protests against attacks on BJP workers and volunteers during the Congress' tenure. This has of course won him friends and fans in the saffron quarter.

But is Surya fully in sync with BJP's own policies?

Signficantly, an old tweet (now deleted) suggests he is not.

tweet_032819024624.jpg

surya_032919094833.jpg

The Bangalore South constituency has been with the BJP since 1996. Ananth Kumar managed to defeat strong candidates fielded by the Congress, including Nandan Nilekani.

Kumar first won the constituency when he was 37 years old. At 28, Surya is pitted against 64-year-old Congress’s Rajya Sabha MP BK Hariprasad.

While Surya’s social media presence seems to have worked in his favour, he is also known to have worked hard on the ground. Surya was apparently instrumental in planning the 2011 rath yatra against corruption that was led by senior party leader LK Advani.

A social media presence, solid experience of ground work and good oratory, all work in Surya’s favour — but his bid to create binaries of pro and anti-India can act as turn-offs. And he really needs to explain his position on the Women's Reservation Bill.

Tejasvi Surya is a young and refreshing candidate. Let's now see how young and refreshing his real ideas — off social media and in the real world — are.

Last updated: April 09, 2019 | 17:08
IN THIS STORY
Please log in
I agree with DailyO's privacy policy