‘Batenge to Katenge’ will be the rallying cry of BJP’s Hindutva campaign.

The slogan ‘Batenge to Katenge’ will give a booster to BJP in UP by-elections.  Is it now the focus on BJP’s Hindutva agenda?

Upananda Brahmachari | HENB | Haridwar | Oct 18, 2024:: The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the upcoming by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, with voting slated for November 13 across nine assembly seats. The results will be declared on November 23. Following the election schedule announcement, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, have commenced preparations for the polls.

BJP’s strategy for the Uttar Pradesh by-elections involves capitalizing on the Hindutva agenda to win over caste groups, building on their recent successes in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Historically, the BJP has maintained an upper hand on Hindutva issues, which has helped them mobilize upper caste support .

Now,  BJP is set to leverage the Hindutva agenda to win over caste groups in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh by-elections. Building on their recent successes in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, the party will likely capitalize on their established strong stance on Hindutva issues. Additionally, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s rallying cry of ‘Batenge to Katenge’ is expected to provide a significant boost to the party’s campaign, having already proven effective in the Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assembly elections.

As part of its strategy to mobilize castes in the Jammu-Kashmir and Haryana assembly elections, the BJP had given the slogan ‘Batenge to Katenge’ (If divided, will be cut), the effect of which was quite visible. The effect of this slogan was that apart from the Jat vote, the BJP was also able to make inroads into the Dalit and Yadav vote banks. In the UP by-elections, it will test the formula of nationalism along with Hindutva.

Most of the Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir (Specially in Hindu dominated Jammu region) were seen mobilized in favor of BJP, not only this, the way Hindu mobilization is seen to be overpowering the caste mobilization, it is enough to tell that the slogan of ‘Batenge to Katenge’ has affected the results. Now in the UP by-elections too, BJP will give it more edge so that the equations like 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 2022 assembly elections can be strengthened again in UP.

This should be noted that in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, after its results, Congress promoted BJP as a farewell from national politics. At the same time, BJP has been strengthened again in the elections of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, Congress and SP have also started preparations to counter the agenda of BJP in the UP by-election.

The ‘Batenge to Katenge’ slogan, meaning “if divided, will be cut,” is gaining significant traction across India, particularly among BJP leaders. This rallying cry emphasizes the importance of unity, warning that division will lead to downfall. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath popularized this phrase at an Agra rally, referencing Bangladesh’s unrest and urging Hindus to remain united.

The slogan has been echoed by other prominent BJP leaders, including Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh, who started  his “Hindu Swabhiman Yatra” in Bihar. This march spanned from Bhagalpur to Kishenganj, promoting Hindu unity and pride. Similarly, West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari invoked the slogan in response to attacks on Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja celebrations in various locations in the state.