New Delhi: In the aftermath of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Yadav's direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of dynasty politics, top BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, have prominently featured "Modi ka parivar" on their social media handles. Lalu Yadav had responded to Modi's critique of dynasty politics within the opposition, particularly targeting RJD, by remarking, "What can we do if Narendra Modi does not have a family of his own?" He also questioned the Prime Minister's adherence to Hinduism, suggesting that he wasn't a true Hindu and questioning his decision not to shave his head and face after his mother's demise in 2022.
In a display of solidarity, leading BJP figures like Mr. Shah, Mr. Nadda, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Anurag Thakur, and former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have incorporated the phrase "Modi ka parivar" into their social media profiles. This move mirrors the strategy employed during the 2019 general election when the BJP launched the "Main bhi chowkidar" campaign. In response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "Chowkidaar chor hai" accusation against the Prime Minister, BJP leaders had added "Main bhi chowkidar" to their social media handles, successfully turning the narrative in their favor.
Just as "Main bhi chowkidar" countered allegations and rallied support, the "Modi ka parivar" initiative seems to be a calculated response to Lalu Yadav's comments, aiming to present a united front against the accusations of dynasty politics and questioning the Prime Minister's religious identity. This strategic deployment of a familial narrative echoes the past success of the BJP in reshaping public perception and controlling the narrative.
