Unraveling the political tapestry behind the 5 Bharat Ratnas, India’s highest honor

Let’s delve into the selection process, starting with the notable figures —Karpoori Thakur, LK Advani, PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and Dr MS Swaminathan.

Karpoori Thakur and Nitish Kumar

It all began with Karpoori Thakur, an undisputed leader in India’s social justice politics. Preceding the Mandal Commission, he pioneered reservations for backward classes, most backward communities, and women.

Thakur’s substantial contribution to the social justice movement in India warrants unequivocal admiration. His role as a messiah for the poor and champion of the downtrodden, emerging from the barber community, elevated him to the zenith of Indian political life. Consequently, the selection of Thakur for the Bharat Ratna stands unquestionable.

However, the subsequent events involving Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, merit attention.

Identifying Thakur as his mentor, Kumar promptly exited the INDIA bloc and aligned with the NDA. Using Thakur’s Bharat Ratna as a pretext, Kumar’s political manoeuvring reflects a strategic move that diminishes the significance of the prestigious award.

The parallel occurrences — the conferment of the Bharat Ratna on Karpoori Thakur and Nitish Kumar’s shift to the NDA — cannot be perceived in isolation. This interconnectedness is rooted in the BJP’s larger strategy of social engineering and political positioning, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states.

The spotlight then shifted to the announcement concerning LK Advani. Given the opportunity, it is likely that Narendra Modi would not have readily endorsed the Bharat Ratna for Advani.

Over the past decade of the BJP regime, one may question why Prime Minister Modi has refrained from bestowing India’s highest civilian honor upon Advani, a towering figure in Indian politics and the driving force behind the Ram Mandir movement, as well as a key architect of modern BJP politics.

While other Opposition parties are unlikely to contest the selection of Advani for the Bharat Ratna, the noticeable lack of recognition for him over the years raises eyebrows.

Modi’s perceived antipathy towards Advani, the venerable leader of the BJP, has been conspicuous.

However, the BJP’s strategic imperative for the upcoming 2024 general elections, centred around the Ram Mandir narrative, leaves little room for overlooking Advani’s contributions. Acknowledging Thakur as part of the social justice and socialist narrative, it is likely that the BJP found itself compelled to extend recognition to Advani, who played a pivotal role in shaping the party’s ideological foundation.

A closer look at the aftermath of Charan Singh’s selection reveals intriguing political developments. His grandson and RLD (Rashtriya Lok Dal) leader, Jayant Chaudhary, promptly expressed an intention to switch sides. The RLD and the Samajwadi Party had nearly reached an electoral understanding for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

With this, the BJP’s strategic move to court the RLD, a key ally of the INDIA alliance in Uttar Pradesh, signals a calculated effort to thwart the combined strength of the SP, RLD, and the Congress in the crucial state.

The choice of Charan Singh for the Bharat Ratna holds another layer of significance. The now-repealed farm laws of the Modi government had incurred the displeasure of the farming community, particularly influential Jat farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and the entire Hindi belt. Recognising Charan Singh, a prominent leader among farmers, is seen as the BJP’s outreach to address the discontent surrounding the farm laws, even though they have been put on hold.

Similarly, Dr Swaminathan, a distinguished agricultural scientist and former chairman of the National Commission of Farmers, was likely selected as an attempt to rally behind the farming community that had distanced itself from the saffron party due to the contentious farm laws.