By- Raza Hasnain Naqvi

The three-vehicles-ramming-into-farmers incident in Tikunia, Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh has got the adrenaline flowing in Opposition parties. They now feel they have got enough gun powder to make a big hole in the wall of the strong fort built by the ruling BJP government at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh.

That fatal 5-meter wide road in Tikunia village in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh has grabbed political headlines everywhere since Sunday, October 3, 2021. Today, those who step into Lakhimpur Kheri may feel like they should travel on that particular stretch of Tikunia road where the infamous incident happened. They could be curious and may want to see ‘the’ spot and the burnt vehicles themselves.

When three high-speed SUVs came and deliberately rammed into protesting farmers quietly walking on that Tikunia road on the afternoon of October 3, 2021, it was enough to send gasps of empathy and political tremors everywhere. Eight people died in the incident; four farmers, one journalist, three others (BJP workers and a vehicle driver), and 10-15 farmers were injured. 

The angry farmers allegedly torched two convoy vehicles. The three cars belonged to supporters of the ruling BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and the Central government.

There was political and non-political outrage and horror as videos emerged of the convoy hitting farmers and running away at high speed on that road. Viewers were shocked at the audacity of the driver of that ‘Thar’ Mahindra Jeep that led the three-vehicle convoy that mowed down the farmers from behind. What emerged soon was that this ‘Thar’ vehicle was registered under Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, Union MoS for Home Affairs. He is also the sitting Lok Sabha MP of BJP from the Lakhimpur Kheri constituency.

Soon after the incident, locals and farmers present at the spot started making allegations that the ‘Thar’ SUV driver was the BJP minister’s son Ashish Mishra ‘Teni’. They also alleged that the occupants of the vehicles fired shots while fleeing on foot from the incident site. The family of one of the slain farmers even protested that the post-mortems did not mention any bullet injuries.

An FIR has been lodged against the minister’s son Ashish Mishra ‘Teni’, and his minister father is also mentioned there. There are widespread messages on social media platforms and TV channels asking why the police have not arrested the minister’s son so far. People have questioned why the Union minister remains on his post as MoS five days after the incident.

Read also: Two arrested in Lakhimpur case, Union Minister’s son untraceable

Opposition Parties Speak in One Voice

As soon as the news of the Tikunia hit-and-run incident went viral on social media and TV channels also followed suit, the Opposition parties started issuing statements of support for the farmers. They criticised the BJP, alleging that the party was harsh and cruel towards farmers who refused to accept and embrace the government policies.

Opposition party leadership started making a beeline to visit Lakhimpur Kheri and offer their condolences to the bereaved farmer families. It is another matter that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh refused permission to them for many hours. The administration detained the top leadership of Opposition parties from reaching Tikunia, Lakhimpur Kheri.

After much media coverage and sustained pressure, the government relented. On October 6, 2021, some members of any political party that wanted to visit Lakhimpur were allowed to go. 

With UP assembly elections 2022 four months away, the party cadres of Opposition parties have now been energised by this incident. Five days after the Tikunia incident, what has emerged is that the Opposition has gained the upper hand compared to the BJP in terms of electoral advantage.

We can even say that political parties in the Opposition in Uttar Pradesh have made some political victories with their journey to Lakhimpur.

Read also: BJP uses Lakhimpur tragedy to kill two birds

Here are five wins that the Opposition has achieved over the past five days on the deathly Tikunia, Lakhimpur political race track.

1.   Winning the War of Perception

Politics is about the perception or awareness of something. In other words, promises and the perception of keeping those promises leads to electoral votes for a party. The Tikunia incident has helped the Opposition spread the perception in the general public that it cares for the people.

All Tikunia videos that have gone viral created a sense of horror and led to sympathy for farmers. The Opposition parties quickly came together and denounced the incident and the BJP. The BJP took time in formulating an appropriate response to the Tikunia tragedy. Every step that the UP government and administration took after the incident, the Opposition quickly condemned it forcefully and gained perception points. The observing video-watching public became aware that Opposition parties were setting the agenda for the government. It is a political win.

2.   Winning the Attention of the Media

Getting the attention and media coverage from print, TV and online media outlets breathes life into any political party worth its name. The Tikunia incident has got Prime Time, almost 24/7 coverage so far. With assembly elections 2022 and political alliances dominating the discourse in headquarters of all political parties, every inch of mention in print media and every mentioned minute on TV channels and online news platforms is crucial.

All Opposition parties in UP, including the Samajwadi Party, Congress Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Aam Aadmi Party, All India Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Bhim Army, have got decent media mentions. The Congress party has got the most media mileage, wanted or unwanted, from the Tikunia incident. Sharp video bytes were given by Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra when she was detained and arrested.

These videos showed her verbal tiff with the police and administration officials of the UP government. They were circulated widely in traditional and social media outlets, which ensured that she became the most visible face of the Opposition.

TV channels and media outlets also gave comprehensive coverage to Congress MP and former President Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi when they finally managed to reach Lakhimpur and meet the slain farmers and slain journalist families.

Other visuals of the arrest of SP National President Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow and detention of Congress MP and former President Rahul Gandhi at the Lucknow Airport with Chief Ministers Bhupesh Baghel and Charanjit Singh Channi also played out seriously on TV channels. It is a political win.

3.   Winning the Admiration of the Party Cadre

The top leadership of all Opposition parties in UP did their best to reach Lakhimpur Kheri after the incident. The UP police and administration did everything in their power to stop them. Political leaders played a cat-and-mouse game to stay away from the grasp of the police and reach Lakhimpur successively.

Respective party supporters saw how their leaders were battling against the UP administration and doing their best to reach the families of the Lakhimpur farmers to offer their condolences. These actions filled them with renewed pride and boosted their morale. Cadres of Opposition parties expressed admiration for the way their leaders were fighting against the ruling BJP government. It is a political win.

4.   Winning the Attention of the Supreme Court

The consistent pressure by the Opposition and Kisan leaders for their immediate demands related to the arrest of the Union minister’s son and dismissal of the Union minister from his post made an impact on the Supreme Court. On October 6, 2021, the SC took suo motu cognizance of the Tikunia Lakhimpur Kheri violence and formed a 3-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana to hear the matter. It is a political win.

Read also: ‘Who are accused, whether arrested or not’: SC seeks answers on Lakhimpur Kheri violence

5.    Winning the Initiative of Planting ‘Party Positive’ Thoughts in the Voter’s Mind

The voting public is acutely analysing every step that Opposition parties have taken in the Tikunia case and the response of the ruling BJP-led government at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh. The voter in UP has seen that the ruling government in UP has had to bow down to the demands of the Opposition and the farmers. This voter perception may prove harmful to the BJP in its electoral prospects. 

The voter wants to see a government that imparts swift justice to victims. The BJP has been caught unawares in the Tikunia incident. The party’s response has been a kneejerk reaction to Opposition criticism instead of measured thinking and decisive action.

The BJP needs to be careful and considerate in the Tikunia case. Any lapse here would mean the Opposition may be able to plant ‘positive thoughts’ for their respective party in the mind of the indecisive voter. By all calculations, the Opposition has taken lead in this initiative. It is a political win.