BJP leader, Rajya Sabha member and Hindutva leader Dr. Subramanian Swamy had said that development alone cannot win polls, instead it is necessary to mix Hindutva in to the agenda for garnering votes.

"Economic development is a must, but you can win the polls (even) if the economy is flattened," Swamy said speaking on 'Desh Ka Mudda' (The issue before the nation) on 'Agenda Aaj Tak'.

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"Our (BJP) spokespersons keep talking about development, but they should learn from (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee because even he talked about India Shining (BJP's campaign slogan in 2004 Lok Sabha polls) and left other things. We lost badly and (the BJP tally) were reduced to half," Swamy said, adding "in politics, economic development is a must, but that is not sufficient".

"The politics that has been going on before 2014 was (about) how to divide the votes on caste, region, religion and language, by consolidating the minority and dividing the majority. If one has to combat that, then majority vote has to be consolidated. Hindus are 80 percent, but BJP got 31 percent votes (in 2014). Consolidating Hindu vote is compulsory," he said.

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Advocating a three-pronged approach to win polls, Swamy had said that, economic development is a must, but it should be blended with "Hindutva and a promising fight against corruption."

By Premji