The New BJP: Modi and the Making of the Worlds Largest Political Party: The Remaking of the World's Largest Political Party (Hardcover) | Released: 03 Jan 2022

In election after election since 2014, both at the Union and state levels, the BJP has won more often than it has lost-a clear indication of growth beyond its core Hindu base. The question is, why do so many people across divisions of caste, religion and gender vote for a party with unapologetically aggressive Hindutva politics Are its much-publicised development schemes, whatever their flaws, the big pull factor Or the active mobilisation of the RSS cadre to its causeIn this fascinating revisionist history, political scientist and journalist Nalin Mehta examines how the BJP became the worlds largest political party. He goes beyond the usual narrative of the partys Hindutva politics to explain how, under Narendra Modi, it reshaped the Indian polity using its own brand of social engineering. This reconstruction was cleverly powered by new caste coalitions, the claim of a new welfare state that focused on marginalised social groups and the making of a women-voter base.Based on data from three unique indices-the Mehta-Singh Social Index, which studies the caste composition of Indian political parties; the Narad Index, which calculates communication patterns across topics and audiences; and PollNiti, which connects and tallies hundreds of political and economic datasets-The New BJP is full of startling insights into the way both the party and the country function. Previously untapped historical records, exclusive interviews with party leaders and comprehensive reportage from across India provide a fresh understanding of the BJPs growth areas, including the Northeast and south India.A lucid and objective study of the BJP and India today, this is a book that demands engagement and debate from every side of the political divide. Review In my opinion, this is going to be a classic, a book that will be read widely and for a long time. Its readership will include scholars, political activists, and anyone whose job or interest lies in understanding contemporary India and the processes that have shaped it.Prof. Robin JeffreyThe transformation of the BJP from a small player in the political scene to the premier, possibly new dominant formation in India has led to much comment but not as much quality scholarship as one might have expected. Mehta brings to this subject the keen energy of a journalist and observer with the patience of an archivist. His analysis has much that will excite, surprise and provoke critical thought even as it informs and gives a sense of perspective. ... A book that will be indispensable for the study of contemporary India.Prof. Mahesh RangarajanMehtas masterful account of the evolution and rise of the BJP deftly weaves an enormous amount of material into an expansive and authoritative account of modern India. This brilliantly revealing portrait of the inner workings of the party-its ideological bedrock, organisational structure and economic outlook-is brimming with insights about Indias cultural contradictions, political alliances and searing religious tensions.Prof. Assa Doron About the Author Professor Nalin Mehta is Dean, School of Modern Media, UPES; Advisor, Global University Systems; and Non- Resident Senior Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. He is an award-winning social scientist, journalist and author who has held senior leadership positions in major Indian media companies and in international financing institutions like the Global Fund in Geneva, Switzerland. He has taught and held research positions at universities and institutions in Australia (ANU, La Trobe University), Singapore (NUS), Switzerland (International Olympic Museum) and India (IIM Bangalore, Shiv Nadar University).He was previously Executive Editor, The Times of India-Online, where he led a number of AI-led tech innovations to redefine digital media. He has also served as Managing Editor, India Today (English TV channel) and Co