The recent political turmoil in Maharashtra, India, has drawn attention to a controversial practice known as “resort politics.” Following a routine assembly vote, Nitin Deshmukh, a lawmaker from a district 350 miles away, was lured into a car under the pretense of dining with a senior party official. However, he soon realized he was being kidnapped, with his captors aiming to recruit him and others to topple the state government.
This incident, which took place in June 2022, is part of a broader strategy employed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to gain control of state governments by isolating lawmakers in luxury resorts. In Maharashtra, Deshmukh and at least two other legislators were taken against their will to ensure that their faction had enough support to challenge the existing government.
The B.J.P.’s approach has been described as aggressive, using financial incentives and pressure from national investigating agencies to sway lawmakers from rival parties. This tactic has enabled the B.J.P. to establish significant influence in various states despite failing to secure electoral victories.
In Maharashtra, the B.J.P. aimed to gain control of a crucial state with a population of 130 million and considerable economic power. The fallout from these events has led to significant realignments within local political parties and created a chaotic political landscape.
As evidence of the effectiveness of their strategy, early results from the first election since the coup indicated that the B.J.P.-led coalition was on track to secure a strong majority. Analysts noted that the coalition’s two years in power, which included expanded welfare and infrastructure programs, propelled their success in the elections.
The implications of resort politics extend beyond Maharashtra. States such as Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have witnessed similar strategies employed by the B.J.P. to destabilize incumbent governments, revealing a pattern of orchestrated political maneuvering aimed at achieving substantial control at the state level.
Deshmukh’s ordeal continued within the hotel where he was held, where demands were made for the Shiv Sena leaders to step down. His attempts to escape were met with hostility from his captors. Eventually, he was forcibly taken to a hospital under false pretenses and sedated.
The escalation of these tactics has sparked concerns about the integrity of democratic processes in India, particularly as the B.J.P. consolidates power through undemocratic means. Political scientists argue that the party's fragmentation strategy aims to ensure long-term domination over Indian politics.
Ultimately, the series of events surrounding the Maharashtra political crisis underscores the increasingly cutthroat nature of India's political landscape, where power struggles often overshadow ideological commitments.