The BJP leadership seems to have deferred the release of the controversial film “Razakar,” produced by party leader Gudur Narayan Reddy, ahead of the 2023 assembly elections. The film, addressing the atrocities of the Razakars, has been put on hold, purportedly due to concerns about its potential impact on voter polarization. Advised against pushing for its release now, the party fears it could lead to reverse polarisation among Muslim voters.
Instead of focusing on the Hindu-Muslim issue, the party aims to emphasize the caste calculus, adopting a triple M strategy targeting Mudirajs, Munnuru Kapus, and Madigas alongside its traditional vote bank. The decision to refrain from discussing Razakar during the elections is grounded in the belief that it might overshadow the party’s social engineering efforts.
Furthermore, the leadership perceives that the film’s release at this stage may not yield the desired effect. Intended to stimulate debate, the timing is deemed unfavorable during elections, where numerous other issues take precedence. Post-assembly elections, the film could potentially benefit the BJP in the subsequent Lok Sabha elections. Gudur Narayana Reddy, the film’s producer, is also a BJP candidate from Bhongir, and releasing the film now could divert his attention from the campaign. Consequently, the decision to defer the film’s release is seen as a strategic move by the party.