 "Who is Tejasvi Surya? Youngest BJP candidate, supported by RSS, raises high nationalism pitch on social media")
The youngest candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party, 28-year-old lawyer and vice-president of the Karnataka BJP Yuva Morcha Tejasvi Surya, has emerged as the centre of the party and Opposition’s attention. Known for his hyperbole on social media and amplified cries of nationalism, Tejasvi has also been quite a sensation since the BJP named him the candidate for its prestigious Bengaluru South Lok Sabha seat, a seat that was widely expected to go to Tejaswini Ananthkumar, the widow of Union minister Ananth Kumar who died in November last year. Tejasvi will contest against Congress’ BK Hariprasad in Bangalore South. He is the nephew of BJP lawmaker Ravi Subramanya. If Tejasvi wins, he would be the youngest MP from the BJP camp. With a young face, the BJP could be hoping to secure youth support for the upcoming polls. However, Tejasvi will not be India’s youngest MP. In 2014, great-grandson of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, and grandson and son of jailed leaders Om Prakash Chautala and Ajay Chautala, Dushyant Chautala of Indian National Lok Dal became the youngest person to become an MP in India. Now 30, Chautala was just 26-years-old when he won the prestigious seat from Hisar after defeating sitting MP Kuldeep Singh Bishnoi, of Haryana Janhit Congress.
OMG OMG!!! I can't believe this.
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 25, 2019
PM of world's largest democracy & President of largest political party have reposed faith in a 28 yr old guy to represent them in a constituency as prestigious as B'lore South. This can happen only in my BJP. Only in #NewIndia of @narendramodi
Several reports (read here, here, here and here) have said that the decision to field Tejasvi instead of Tejaswini Ananthkumar was a combined decision of the BJP and RSS national leaderships. Leaders of both RSS and BJP have also applauded Tejasvi’s fiery speeches, which his critics have dubbed as polarising. Recently, a five-year-old tweet by Tejasvi was circulated on social media which said: “With the exception of Women’s Reservation in Parliament, Modi govt agenda is inspiring. Dread the day when women’s reservation becomes reality”
The women’s quota bill has been stalled for years, blocked by lawmakers across party lines. Criticising a law that aims to reserve a third of seats in Parliament for women, is not very becoming of a leader who is going to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha election, and at a time when issues related to women emancipation and their empowerment is one of the most debated topics not only in India, but in the world. The tweet has now vanished from his timeline. The screenshot of the deleted tweet started circulating on Tuesday as media organisations dug out data on Tejasvi Surya. Does he still feel the same way, questioned some on social media. Tejasvi’s Twitter timeline makes for a good read. Not only does it give an insight into Tejasvi’s brand of politics but it also appears to show why he was chosen by the RSS and the BJP to be the face of a distinguished, high-profile seat. Enamoured by the politics and ideology of the RSS and the BJP, Tejasvi’s tweets eulogise Prime Minister Narendra Modi more than speaking out on issues which are plaguing the nation. Instead of speaking about pertinent issues, Tejasvi has several tweets thanking Modi for giving him an opportunity to “work under him”.
When I contested for Head Boy in school, my election symbol was a Lion ;)
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 27, 2019
This time around, I have the opportunity to work under a lion - PM @narendramodi#ProudBJPian #VoteForBJP pic.twitter.com/wPk632cHD4
When he is not tweeting his undying adulation for the Central leadership, Tejasvi is decoding the concept of Hindus in Independent India on Twitter. For an example, go through this thread:
#Thread
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 19, 2019
I was in panel discussion at Christ University today on 'What is India's identity? Is it changing?'
I told India's primary identity is Hindu identity. A large section of audience gasped with shock as though I said something offensive. Some felt I was 'extreme'!
Sharing his experience at a panel discussion at Christ University in Bengaluru, Tejasvi said, “The idea that we became a new nation in 1947 & our Constitution is what makes us plural is the regular BS that our kids are fed with. Unless Hindus realise that India is plural because India is majority Hindu & not just because of a Constitution, we won’t go anywhere.” He further wrote: “A concerted effort is made to negate our Hindu past, make it uncool to be Hindu, say we must look at the future and not past, say we are Constitutionalists, say we are Indian & nothing else, deliberately portray Hindusim to be regressive, change goalposts, speak of human identity.”’ “Young Hindus must be made to study bloody history of the abrahamic religions and their dogmas. They will themselves realise how they have been fooled to believe in superficial mumbo jumbo all these years. Only the Hindu philosophy is universal and accepting. Rest are predatory” In a series of tweets, Tejasvi notes how lack of knowledge about “abrahamic religions” which have massacred and partitioned India, is the reason why “Hindu people have ZERO civilizational consciousness”. He ended the thread with this tweet:
Muslim girl asked me when I mean Hindu identity, does it not have space for Muslims? I said of course Muslims can live, but must live in harmony with larger Hindu identity. I asked her if Muslims will state they will hold Constitution above Quran in case of conflict between two.
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 20, 2019
Tejasvi’s heavily nationalistic orientation and diatribe can be attributed to his closeness with the RSS and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in his younger days. After Tejasvi was announced as the BJP candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the young leader sent out several tweets thanking members of the Sangh Parivar, including national joint general secretary (organising) of the BJP BL Santhosh and top RSS functionary Mukunda CR, who was named Sah Sarkaryavah (Joint General Secretary) at the valedictory of a three-day Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) in March 2018.
I can't thank enough RSS and its selfless leaders for showering their choicest blessings on me. You have excused my mistakes, tolerated my mischief, supported me in every possible way. I can't believe that men like @MUKUNDAckpura & @blsanthosh exist in real. I want to be like you
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 25, 2019
ABVP. Organisation where I first learnt ABCD of organisation work. Raghunandan Ji, Ravi Kumar @nrkbjp Ji, Nagaraj Reddy Ji, Ravi Chandra Ji, Vinay Bidre Ji, Kitty Ji, Swamy Ji, Tammesh Gowda, Vasant, Santhosh Reddy and so many more - I am so grateful to you all. Need your support
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 25, 2019
Tejasvi also becomes crucial to BJP’s Karnataka plans given a sizable population of Brahmins and upper caste Hindus. But that aside, Bengaluru South has also been the base for RSS operations in the city for over two decades. The constituency also has a large chunk of people from the Vokkaliga and OBC communities, who have leaned towards the RSS and BJP, The News Minute reported. Santhosh, especially, pushed for Tejasvi’s candidature. Comparing the Bengaluru South seat to Indore or Bhopal, BJP leaders told The News Minute, “The point was to give into the RSS demand of fielding a candidate acceptable to the Sangh. With pressure coming in from the sangh, they decided to field Tejasvi, who has been working with the RSS for a long time.” Interestingly, Tejasvi’s extensive time spent with the ABVP and RSS has not been discussed much anywhere. Most of the reports, Tejasvi has been referred to as a “lawyer”. With a sizable population of Brahmins and upper caste Hindus, Bengaluru South has been the base for RSS operations in the city for over two decades, reports said. The constituency also has a large chunk of people from the Vokkaliga and OBC communities, who have leaned towards the RSS and BJP. The BJP has held the seat since 1991. Ananth Kumar had represented the constituency from 1996 and had won in 2014 by a margin of over two lakh votes against Congress candidate Nandan Nilekani.
Getting an opportunity to represent Bangalore South constituency would never be possible if it wasn't for the constant support and guidance from two of the tallest leaders in K'taka today, Shri @RAshokaBJP ji & Shri @VSOMANNA_BJP ji.
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 26, 2019
Grateful for their affection & faith in me!
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