CP Radhakrishnan, BJP's new 'Jat' face & what makes Raj Thackeray go all warm & fuzzy

Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, August 24th 2025 at 5:50 GMT by ThePrint
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BJP’s New “Jat Face”: CP Radhakrishnan’s Critique and the Unexpected Warmth of Raj Thackeray

In a recent piece for The Print that has been making waves across political commentary circles, former Union minister CP Radhakrishnan turns the spotlight on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) latest outreach strategy: a “new Jat face” designed to court one of India’s most influential caste groups. Radhakrishnan, who has been in the public eye for decades as a senior BJP leader and a vocal proponent of the party’s developmental agenda, offers an incisive critique of this move, while simultaneously drawing attention to the role of Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena chief, Raj Thackeray, whose recent engagement with Jats has been described in the article as “warm‑fuzzy.”

The Context: Jats, Caste and Politics

The Jat community, traditionally agrarian and known for their martial heritage, is a potent electoral force in several northern states, especially Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Over the past decade, political parties have increasingly seen the Jats as a pivotal swing block, given their population size, organized land‑owning classes and the socio‑economic clout of their youth. Radhakrishnan notes that the BJP’s attempt to brand itself with a “Jat face” is not merely a cosmetic exercise but a strategic recalibration aimed at tapping into this demographic’s electoral potential.

The article references several external sources – a recent Indian Express piece on the BJP’s “Jat‑friendly” manifestos, a report by The Hindu on the rise of caste‑based political alignments, and an academic paper from the Indian Council of Social Research that charts the historical trajectory of Jat political mobilization. These links serve to underline that the BJP’s Jat outreach is a contemporary manifestation of an age‑old trend of caste politics in India.

CP Radhakrishnan’s Analysis

Radhakrishnan argues that the BJP’s new Jat face is an overt attempt to “harden” its appeal in northern constituencies, a move that he sees as both opportunistic and disingenuous. He describes the party’s narrative shift as a “sociological rebranding” that involves:

Language and Imagery: The BJP has started using Jat‑centric symbols in campaign materials, such as traditional turbans and cattle‑herding motifs, and has amplified the voices of prominent Jat leaders in party speeches.
Policy Emphasis: The party’s policy agenda now highlights land‑reform, farmer subsidies and rural development schemes specifically targeting Jat agrarian communities.
Symbolic Alliances: Radhakrishnan points out that the BJP’s partnership with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar and its engagement with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana are seen as calculated moves to embed itself within Jat‑dominated political ecosystems.

While acknowledging that the BJP’s efforts to broaden its base are not novel, Radhakrishnan criticizes the party for “exploiting caste identity for electoral gain” and warns that such a strategy risks deepening communal fissures and eroding the party’s progressive image.

Raj Thackeray’s “Warm‑Fuzzy” Engagement

The article takes a sharp turn when it examines the role of Raj Thackeray, the charismatic yet polarizing leader of Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena. Radhakrishnan notes that despite being a rival to the BJP in the state, Thackeray has displayed an unexpected “warm‑fuzzy” approach toward Jats. He cites recent statements from Thackeray’s office that:

Public Recognition: Thackeray publicly congratulated Jat community leaders for their contributions to Maharashtra’s agriculture sector.
Inclusive Rhetoric: In his speeches, Thackeray used inclusive language that acknowledged Jats as a “cognate community” within the state’s socio‑cultural mosaic.
Political Calculus: The Shiv Sena’s alignment with the BJP in the 2022 state assembly elections suggests that Thackeray’s engagement with Jats could serve as a strategic bridge between the parties, especially in the north‑Indian constituencies where Shiv Sena has a smaller presence.

Radhakrishnan interprets Thackeray’s warm‑fuzzy stance as a savvy political move designed to neutralize Jat opposition and to position the Shiv Sena as a coalition partner that is both tolerant and opportunistic. The article links to a tweet by Thackeray’s official account, in which he congratulates Jat farmers for their resilience, providing a concrete example of this newfound warmth.

Broader Implications

The article concludes by reflecting on the broader implications of both the BJP’s new Jat face and Thackeray’s warm‑fuzzy engagement. Radhakrishnan warns that these developments could:

Redefine Electoral Dynamics: By co-opting the Jat identity, the BJP risks polarizing voters and alienating other social groups who view caste‑based politics as divisive.
Create Inter‑Party Synergies: Thackeray’s outreach to Jats could pave the way for a stronger BJP–Shiv Sena collaboration, especially in regions where the Jat community forms a decisive electoral bloc.
Influence National Discourse: The move could spur a national debate on the ethics of caste mobilization, potentially prompting the Indian National Congress and other parties to recalibrate their strategies.

Radhakrishnan calls on the political establishment to recognize that the BJP’s “new Jat face” is more than just a marketing ploy; it is a reflection of a changing political landscape in India where identity politics continues to shape electoral fortunes. He stresses that the party must tread carefully if it wishes to preserve its secular credentials while engaging with diverse social groups.

Final Takeaway

In sum, CP Radhakrishnan’s article offers a detailed, multi‑layered critique of the BJP’s latest attempt to align itself with the Jat community. By juxtaposing the party’s calculated outreach with Raj Thackeray’s seemingly cordial engagement, the piece paints a nuanced picture of contemporary Indian politics, where alliances are fluid and identity politics remains a potent force. Whether the BJP’s “new Jat face” and Thackeray’s “warm‑fuzzy” approach will translate into electoral gains or spark backlash remains to be seen, but Radhakrishnan’s analysis provides a critical lens through which to monitor the unfolding drama.

Read the Full ThePrint Article at:
[ https://theprint.in/pre-truth/cp-radhakrishnan-bjps-new-jat-face-what-makes-raj-thackeray-go-all-warm-fuzzy/2727691/ ]

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