Bihar polls: Opposition accuses BJP of politicising military action

Operation Sindoor dominates campaign speeches

Even though the election to Bihar Assembly has not yet been announced and the election campaign is yet to start, the recent military strikes against Pakistan, codenamed Operation Sindoor, are set to dominate the campaign speeches as ruling alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party has begun to ‘own’ operation, and the opposition parties, including the Congress condemning the politicisation of a military operation by the BJP even as the opposition tries to raise issues like development, social justice and economic issues.

That the terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, would dominate India’s political ecosystem became clear when Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to head to Bihar, instead of Jammu & Kashmir, upon his hastened return from Saudi Arabia on the following day.

It was also in Bihar, at a rally, that Modi first made a public statement on the attack vowing vengeance upon the perpetrators of the attack and promising to ‘hunt down’ the terrorists to ‘all ends of the earth’. Within days, India launched a series of military strikes against Pakistan under ‘Operation Sindoor’, in which the terrorists’ hideouts in Pakistan and in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) were reportedly destroyed.

Three days later, as India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, brokered by the United States, it was clear that the terror attack and the subsequent military actions would top the headlines in the country and be the main issue for the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, which have to be completed by November.

Modi’s actions and speeches since then have confirmed that the Bharatiya Janata Party was set to focus on the issue as its main campaign plank for the crucial state which sends 40 members to the Lok Sabha and is key to the ruling minority government of Modi.

Operation Sindoor has emerged as a central talking point, shaping both the tone and tactics of political campaigns of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) across the state. Political analysts say that in order to portray themselves as the sole defenders of national sovereignty and the only party that can provide a forceful response to external threats, the BJP and its NDA allies have since incorporated Operation Sindoor into their campaign narrative.

Public rallies, temple prayers and even the appearance of Operation Sindoor-themed advertisements on Indian Railways tickets have all been part of the party’s outreach efforts, which aim to establish the party as the obvious choice for voters who are worried about security.

“Yes, they will use the recent military operation in their election campaigns. It falls under a segment where national security is rightfully one of the key concerns for the voter so no political party is wrong to support it or discuss it. However, political parties will wrongly use the patriotism of a common man to gain support for their own political party. The ongoing flag march and financial compensation to the families of martyrs does come under a gesture of goodwill from the political party but undeniably helps them gather support for their parties and their campaigns,” Nishant Rai, a Visakhapatnam-based freelance political analyst, tells Media India Group.

Some voters say that they support the BJP as the opposition lacks suitable candidates.

“There is no suitable candidate in Congress. The BJP government is focussing on businesses, education, and employment in their campaigns, not just on military operations. Only the BJP is a viable contender for winning the election and forming the government. Operation Sindoor was necessary, not for vote bank politics, but for the nation and for national security,” Harsh, Sales and Marketing member at Tata Motors in Bihar tells Media India Group.

Unlike previous military actions, such as the 2016 Uri surgical strike or the 2019 Pulwama response, where opposition parties demanded proof or questioned the government’s handling, Operation Sindoor has seen a united front. The Indian Army’s swift and decisive action, coupled with widespread public outrage over the Pahalgam attack, has left little room for dissent.

But the opposition parties accuse the BJP and its allies of hijacking the military action and stealing the credit from the military. “The Congress firmly condemns the BJP’s shameless politicisation of Operation Sindoor. As a party rooted in social justice and welfare, we refuse to exploit military operations, our armed forces are a symbol of national pride, not a tool for electoral gain. Unlike the BJP, which thrives on hollow nationalism and misuses the valour of our soldiers for votes, we will confront them with real issues, unemployment, inflation, inequality and crumbling public welfare. Let the BJP hide behind uniforms; we will stand with the people,” Tejash Vachhani, Spokesperson of the Indian Youth Congress, the youth wing of the Congress, tells Media India Group.

By emphasising issues like caste census, economic inequality, and social welfare and by openly opposing what it refers to as the “repeated misuse of military achievements for political mileage,” the Congress is attempting to counter the BJP’s narrative.

“We strongly condemn Modi’s habitual exploitation of military operations for political mileage. This is not the first time, he shamelessly used the Pulwama and Uri attacks during past elections. Modi has reduced the dignity of the Prime Minister’s office to that of a 24/7 election propaganda machine. National security is not a marketing tool,” Vachhani adds.

By raising concerns about the government’s management of the operation, the ceasefire, and the involvement of foreign powers, as well as pointing out shortcomings on the social and economic fronts, the Congress hopes to hold the BJP responsible.

Clouding the air for the ruling alliance is the response of some voters who say they are not  convinced that military achievements alone should determine their vote.

“Regarding BJP’s focus on Operation Sindoor and military achievements, I do not think these will influence my vote more than issues like jobs, education, and development. Political parties often use such operations for campaigning, but real progress requires focus on core issues, not marketing tactics. Ultimately, I believe voters are swayed by sentiment, but lasting change comes from genuine development. People should speak up for what’s right, rather than remain silent until personally affected,” Naveen, an executive at a German IT firm, tells Media India Group.

Nevertheless, Operation Sindoor has unquestionably bolstered the BJP’s support, especially among upper castes, OBCs and urban and semi-urban voters, groups that collectively make up a sizable majority of Bihar’s electorate. The BJP’s advanced outreach and social media campaigns, which have adapted their message to appeal to various demographics and geographical areas throughout Bihar, have further increased the operation’s impact.

“Security issues are always the highest priority for any nation. So other issues such as employment, corruption and the economy are bound to get less attention,” Rai adds.