As the Aam Aadmi Party charts its course for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and various state assembly polls, the scrutiny of Kejriwal's religious gambit intensifies.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the master tactician behind his party’s meteoric rise and political maneuvers, is facing criticism for what some see as an attempt to exploit religious sentiments for electoral gains.
The recent display of his Hanuman devotion, coupled with strategic moves surrounding the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, has raised concerns about the mingling of religion with politics.
Kejriwal decided not to outrightly reject the invitation for the temple’s consecration on January 22. He rather expressed a desire to visit Ayodhya with his family later is being viewed as a calculated move. Critics argue that such actions blur the line between genuine religious faith and political opportunism, undermining the secular fabric of the political discourse.
The AAP leader’s previous use of religious symbolism, particularly his recitation of Hanuman Chalisa before the Delhi Assembly elections, had been perceived as a strategic move to counter the BJP’s aggressive Hindutva stance. While this approach proved successful in the context of those elections, critics are now questioning the long-term implications of incorporating religious symbolism into political strategy.
The move comes at a time when the country is grappling with polarising issues, including the Ram Temple debate and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)-National Register of Citizens (NRC) protests. Kejriwal’s decision to steer clear of such contentious topics in the past had garnered praise for prioritising governance over divisive issues.
As the AAP expands its footprint nationally and eyes crucial assembly elections in Haryana and Delhi, Kejriwal’s shift towards employing what is being termed the ‘Hanuman card’ has drawn criticism for potentially deepening religious fault lines. Critics argue that bringing religion into politics not only risks alienating sections of the electorate but also sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the principles of a secular democracy.
The strategy to counter the BJP’s dominance on the Hindutva front in Gujarat through religious programmes is viewed skeptically by those who believe that political discourse should remain focused on policy, governance, and addressing the needs of the people rather than using religious symbols as electoral tools.
As the AAP charts its course for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and various state assembly polls, the scrutiny of Kejriwal’s religious gambit intensifies. The question remains whether this approach, seen by critics as a calculated election strategy, will resonate with the electorate or lead to growing concerns about the entanglement of faith and politics in India’s democratic arena.
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Photo courtesy: Aaj Tak
