The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has resumed its governance but with a slightly weakened stance in the Lok Sabha following the recent elections. Unlike the robust majorities enjoyed in the last two terms under Prime Minister Modi, the BJP this time finds itself below the majority threshold. The collective seat count for the NDA falls short of the 300 mark, a situation that has sparked widespread discussions and analyses regarding the unexpected turn of events. The election results, particularly surprising outcomes from states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, have led to vigorous debates among political analysts about the potential missteps and strategic errors.

Amid this analytical frenzy, Senior Supreme Court Advocate and noted author J Sai Deepak offered his reflections on the electoral outcomes, providing some thought-provoking advice to the Bhartiya Janata Party. In a message shared on the social media platform X this past Wednesday, Advocate Deepak articulated his perspective, albeit with a disclaimer about his limitations in accessing direct data or resources. He stated, "I don’t have the resources or the first-hand knowledge to distill the reasons for the outcome. With this caveat, I will air a few general expectations which, in my view, are legitimate and reasonable. Whether they led to the outcome or not is for stakeholders to decide.”

Deepak's analysis comes at a crucial time as the BJP reassesses its strategies and approaches in light of the less-than-anticipated performance, aiming to realign its connection with its core voter base while reevaluating the influences and narratives that may have swayed public opinion during the elections.

Advocate J Sai Deepak, while reflecting on the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) recent electoral performance, emphasized the need to attentively address the concerns of its core "Hindutva voters." He particularly pointed out the significance of the tax-paying, law-abiding middle class within this group. Deepak advised the BJP to focus keenly on the issues affecting this demographic and recommended maintaining a clear distance from what he described as neo-Hindutvawadis who distort traditional values by promoting leftist stereotypes under the guise of venerating figures like Veer Savarkar.

He elaborated on his perspective, "Macro Hindu symbolism aside, it would help to pay close attention to the core Hindutva vote base on critical issues which impact its lives, dignity & future. The current numbers were perhaps made possible by this Hindutva core which votes out of loyalty to Dharma,” highlighting the loyalty and impact of this core demographic.

Deepak further delineated the profile of this core base, "This core Hindutva base is mostly comprised of the middle class, tax-paying, law-abiding Hindu who slogs personally, & bats for Hindutva despite the constant stacking of 'social justice initiatives' in all forms & shapes against him/her. Clearly, it helps to keep them on your side. In the interest of making their law-abiding lives liveable in an increasingly hostile environment, it would help to keep at a distance the newly-minted alleged Hindutvawadi social justice warriors who push Leftist anti-Dharmic stereotypes under the garb of Hindutva using Savarkar,” stressing the challenges faced by these voters and the negative impact of those misrepresenting Hindutva principles.

Additionally, Advocate Deepak called for the protection of traditional institutions that are foundational to Hindutva, critiquing certain trends of undermining these institutions under the pretext of promoting social equity. He noted, "It is possible to deliver social equity without pushing received stereotypes or constantly attacking traditional institutions that the Hindutva core holds dear. Surely there are ways of lifting people up without trashing tradition. Unless the goal of some is to destroy it,” pointing out the possibility of achieving social progress without compromising on traditional values.

Advocate J Sai Deepak further articulated his vision for the autonomy and revitalization of Hindu temples, advocating for their liberation from state control. His viewpoint is centered on the notion that freeing temples from government oversight could lead to a broader empowerment of Hindu society. He highlighted that such a step would not only preserve tradition but also help in utilizing temple assets to support educational and developmental efforts for those in need, without discrimination based on caste.

Deepak argued, "Bridge the First & Second points by freeing Temples from State Control. Preserve tradition & recover the assets of Temples to educate & uplift those struggling for resources regardless of caste. Empower the Hindu society instead of rendering it subservient to the State. For those who disagree with tradition ('orthodoxy'), the freedom of conscience guaranteed under the Constitution enables setting up of new institutions where they are free to subscribe to or deviate from tradition in accordance with the dictates of their conscience.” This statement underscores the dual benefits of tradition preservation and societal empowerment that can be achieved by detaching religious institutions from state mechanisms.

Moreover, he touched upon the treatment of Hindu religious sites, or Kshetras. Deepak stressed the importance of respecting the sanctity and natural settings of these sites, cautioning against treating them merely as potential infrastructure projects. He emphasized that while improvements in cleanliness and organization are necessary, such efforts must be respectful of the intrinsic qualities of the Kshetras.

In his statement, "Respect Kshetras, their sanctity & their natural setting. They can certainly do with better cleanliness & organisation, but they are not infrastructure projects & must be approached with some respect for the Kshetra, its prakriti and the prakriti it is located in,” Deepak calls for a mindful approach that balances developmental needs with the preservation of natural and cultural heritage.

Expanding on this theme, Deepak also highlighted environmental concerns, particularly in regions like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where the ecological balance is delicate. He cautioned against unrestrained tourism and development activities that overlook the ecological sensitivities of these areas, stating, "Respect prakriti even in this important quest for development, especially in sensitive regions such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Unrestrained tourism & development which is not sensitive to the ecology of a place have consequences for the local and others,” thus advocating for sustainable development practices that honor and preserve the natural environment.

He pointed out the vital role that investment in the humanities, particularly in the study of history, plays in the process of decolonization. Deepak argues that without serious commitments to these areas, the rhetoric surrounding decolonization remains largely ineffective.

He explained, "Please understand the need to invest in humanities, especially in history. Decolonisation is an empty rhetoric if it is not followed up with concrete steps in the realms of education & culture because they are battlegrounds of the present to engineer a future. The political and civilisational consequences of fabricated weaponised history have played itself out on the streets and elsewhere over the last decade to the detriment of the Hindu society and Bharat. Therefore, decolonising humanities is equally a political imperative,” emphasizing that the humanities are not just academic disciplines but pivotal fields where the nation's future is shaped and contested.

Further delving into issues of national integrity and security, Deepak also addressed the challenges posed by illegal migration, which he views as a significant threat to the country's social, economic, and political fabric. The advocate's concern revolves around the impact of unchecked migration on employment, law and order, and the demographic balance within various regions of India.

He stressed, "Tackle illegal migration with an iron hand. Parts of Bharat are being taken over and the lives of Bharatiyas being made miserable, including on the economic front through loss of employment at every level to illegal migrants. Law and order is the first casualty. The Delimitation game has its limits in containing & dealing with illegal migration. After a point, even that can’t hold fort because of demographic inversion. Viewed from every perspective, illegal migration poses perhaps the biggest threat to Bharat’s integrity,” highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue robustly to safeguard national interests.

In the concluding segment of his discourse, Advocate J Sai Deepak emphasized the importance of comprehensive demographic data for India's future planning and policy-making. He specifically called for the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the undertaking of a new census. These measures, according to Deepak, are essential to obtain accurate demographic data, which he argues is crucial for effective governance and policy formulation beyond just economic measures.

Deepak expressed his concern, stating, "Bharat badly needs an NRC and a new census to understand where we stand demographically. Without this data, we are practically flying blind under the mistaken assumption that pure economic growth is the silver bullet to all our problems. It is necessary but not sufficient,” highlighting that while economic growth is vital, it alone cannot address all of India's complex social and political challenges without a solid understanding of its demographic foundations.

In his final remarks, Deepak reflected on the political landscape and the implications of parliamentary dynamics in India. He lamented the often retrospective appreciation of a parliamentary majority and its potential power to enact significant changes. His statement "We typically understand the value of a parliamentary majority and what could have been achieved with it after letting go of it. Let’s hope we are ready with a clearer vision for 2029 or earlier. Jai Shri Ram.” underscores a hope for better preparedness and strategic foresight in Indian politics, looking toward future electoral opportunities and governance challenges.