The Lotus and India’s Changing political landscape

The lotus grows in the darkest silt, drawing sustenance from decay. Yet, when it rises to the surface, it remains untouched, and its petals are not stained by the very mud that enables its existence. In politics, as in life, the question is not whether one encounters the mud, but whether one transcends it

The lotus is seen as a sacred symbol consistently in the Indian civilizational imagination. Lord Vishnu sits on it, Lakshmi is born out of it, and Saraswati and Brahma are seated on it. These appearances are not decorative repetition but a civilizational argument. The lotus grows in the darkest silt, drawing sustenance from decay. But when it comes to the surface, it remains untouched, and its petals are not stained by the very mud that enables its existence. In politics, as in life, the question is not whether one encounters the mud, but whether one transcends it.

The political environment of India has long been the victim of old and muddy systems, visible across the states of West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Political stagnation manifests in different forms and yet shares a common thread of ideological narrow-mindedness over dynamic governance. In West Bengal, it took the form of deeply embedded cadre-based politics that blurred institutional neutrality. It showed up as an obvious dichotomy in Kerala, leaving little room for substantive electoral change. Tamil Nadu too stayed dominated by a strong Dravidian rivalry, whilst Assam, plagued by ethnic fears and growth disparities, experienced extended periods of volatility. This is the “mud” in Indian politics. It is not a moral accusation, but an intrinsic actuality. Systems of corruption, patronage, mobilisation based on identity, and lack of governance have frequently provided an ecosystem in which reform becomes hard and disruption even more difficult. But history reminds us that transformative politics seldom grows out of pristine conditions. It occurs right at the moment when systems seem to be the most resistant to change.

This is most clearly demonstrated in West Bengal, where the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party is one of the most important political events of recent decades. Bengal has never been politically unconscious or even subversive; its citizens are used to a powerful ideological discourse. For the BJP, getting into this terrain was not really an electoral struggle, but rather a long-term struggle. The party had not only a strong incumbent, but also a strong and established political culture that was resistant to external ideological currents.

But still, the lotus bloomed. More important than the numbers, though, is the change in political psychology.

The fact that the BJP has grown in Bengal is an indication that the aspirations of the voters are changing. It is no longer an issue between parties but rather an issue between competing visions. Moreover, it was between a regional identity based in legacy politics and a larger narrative of rebellion against crimes and developmental aspirations.

And this was no coincidental development. It proved organisational depth, re-experience of political messages, and the ability to attract constituencies that felt neglected within the existing power structures. The BJP narrative of Bengal was to continue the local identity into a wider national context and not reject it. Its strategic pivot was that fine line between integration and assertion.

So, Bengal is not a mere state-based story but an important milestone. It demonstrates that political ecosystems, however established, are not impenetrable. The lotus, which originally was considered an outsider in the political pond of Bengal, has now established itself. And when established, it can even reform the very topography.

If Bengal is an ideological breakthrough, then Assam is administrative consolidation. The direction of the BJP in this situation has taken a shift, leaving the realm of challenger politics and entering the sphere of governance. Stability, which would have been hard to come by in the past, has become an aspect of it. Better law and order and a more coherent policy regime have transformed the developmental narrative of the state.

The reform in Assam is informative that the BJP has ceased to be a party of only political growth but an institution of governance. The metrics of roads, connectivity and social schemes have further enhanced its credibility due to its focus on delivery. This transition from agitation to administration is what distinguishes durable political movements from transient ones. And thus, the lotus in Assam is not only blooming but also stabilising the environment surrounding it.

Tamil Nadu is, however, a totally different ball game. In this case, the path of the BJP is a long-term internalization of ideology through long-lasting steps. It is out of decades of Dravidian thinking that the state has not only a robust identity paradigm, but also an insular political system.

It takes time to crack such a system and not hack into it. This has been embodied in the strategy taken by the BJP. Instead of confrontational politics, the BJP has prioritised incremental growth, organisational network-building and involvement in cultural narratives. And it has started showing through a gradual yet noticeable change.

Young voters, urban constituencies and sections wanting options other than the prevalent binaries are beginning to seek new political possibilities. The emphasis of the BJP on the incorporation of cultural elements of Tamil identity without dissociating it from the larger civilisation project has started resonating, despite doing so in a rather gradual manner.

Tamil Nadu thus, is the long game. This lotus is not yet in flower, but the ground is being made ready. And in politics, as in nature, preparation frequently is the foreboding harbinger of consequent growth. Kerala is the most intriguing battleground for the BJP. It is also defined by the cyclical structure of the voting mechanism, which leaves little room for fundamental change to occur. The friction between the two major sides has resulted in a political equilibrium that is stable but potentially inert.

However, now there are minor shifts taking place. Political fatigue is rising, particularly among youngsters. Questions about governance performance, economic prospects and dogmatism are increasingly being raised. Kerala’s fundamental strengths, including an informed electorate and a vigorous public discourse, are now opening up space for introspection.

This is where the probable admission of the BJP comes into play. In Kerala, unlike in Bengal or Assam, the issue is not only institutional, but also perception-related. It means establishing itself as a viable alternative in an environment where political identities are deeply entrenched.

Still, the circumstances for such a transition are rapidly aligning. The accumulation of political “mud” in the form of exhaustion, unmet goals and systemic stagnation produces the exact climate in which new possibilities develop. The BJP’s job is not to disrupt abruptly, but to portray itself as a genuine alternative that blends governance and ideological clarity.

Kerala’s shift, if and when it happens, will be gradual. It will be the consequence of ongoing involvement, narrative development and a steady reconfiguration of voter expectations. However, the initial signs are clear: the political environment is no longer as limited as it once was.

Viewed together, an upward trend can be detected among these states. The BJP’s escalation is not uniform; it is also regional, adapting to local factors and scaling back its strategy as needed. In some places, it is the insurgent spirit; in others, it is the anchoring force; and in others, it is the patient builder of future possibilities, as if the lotus bloom is in various stages. And, ironically, the lotus does not reject the mud. It requires it first and subsequently grows out of it. The duality of participation without entanglement is what gives it durability and purity.

And when one looks closely at Kerala, it appears that the horizon is about to undergo a quiet transformation. The waves may appear tranquil on the surface, but beneath them, the elements of change are collecting. The sediment has deepened, the currents have shifted, and the room for emergence is growing.

The lotus, however, does not blossom simply because the mud is so deep. It blossoms because the roots were patient, the growth was disciplined, and the direction toward light was never abandoned by itself or the hopefuls, even when the surface was so far away.

The political environment of India has long been shaped by old and muddy systems, visible across states such as West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Political stagnation manifests in different forms, yet shares a common thread of ideological narrow-mindedness over dynamic governance

Manoj Sinha, Principal, Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi and Ramanand Sharma, Assistant Professor, Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi; Views presented are personal.