How Modi’s BJP Has Lost Its Biggest Edge

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have lost its most significant advantage: its once-uncanny ability to read the national mood and swiftly tailor its reactions.

Recent events in New Delhi and across India reflect a growing disconnect. What began as low-key youth protests against the NEET exam paper leak, led by the online satire platform Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), quickly gained national momentum. Activist Sonam Wangchuk amplified the cause by beginning an indefinite hunger strike. The situation intensified when Wangchuk was forcibly removed by authorities and hospitalized, further fueling public anger.

The protests culminated in a massive "Chalo Sansad" (March to Parliament) demonstration on July 20, drawing thousands more participants than anticipated. The state's response was a severe police crackdown, involving lathi charges and tear gas, against the student protestors. Images of this violence, along with the subsequent unceremonious detention of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, have deeply unsettled many across the country.

Despite the widespread outrage, the Modi government has maintained a defiant stance, refusing to dismiss Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan or accept substantial responsibility. This reaction marks a rare misstep for the BJP, a party that since 2014 has expertly managed public perception. The article suggests that years of power and popularity have led to hubris and complacency, causing the party to misjudge the ground sentiment and lose control of the narrative.