Resort Politics: A Tool for Political Power in Modi’s India

Lawmaker Nitin Deshmukh recounts a harrowing experience reflective of the controversial practice of "resort politics" employed by Modi's government, highlighting how political power struggles in India can lead to coercive tactics and unlawful detainment.

 

In the heart of Maharashtra, India, a chilling practice known as “resort politics” has surfaced as a tool for political maneuvering, particularly utilized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Lawmaker Nitin Deshmukh, who represents a district far from Mumbai, found himself entangled in this disconcerting web after a routine assembly session. What began as a seemingly innocuous dinner invitation quickly spiraled into a nightmare.

As he embarked on a car ride with a senior party official towards a suburban dinner, Mr. Deshmukh soon realized the true nature of his expedition. Instead of heading to dinner, the car veered off course and merged into a convoy of vehicles. He was, in essence, being kidnapped. This ordeal saw Mr. Deshmukh forcibly taken to a hotel across state lines, held against his will, and ultimately drugged after he attempted to escape.

This aggressive tactic is emblematic of a broader trend identified within Indian politics, where the BJP employs coercive measures to destabilize opposing state governments. The premeditated strategy centers on isolating lawmakers in luxury resorts until they agree to abandon their parties and allegiance, thereby stripping rival governments of their majority.

Numerous lawmakers have substantiated claims of being lured away in similar circumstances. The objective remains consistent: to orchestrate a revolt against existing state governments, ensuring that the Modi-led BJP secures dominance, particularly in states it failed to win through conventional electoral means. This continuing saga not only raises serious ethical questions but also underscores the lengths to which political parties may go to seize control.