The Dark Side of Resort Politics: A Look into Modi's Tactics for Power**

Lawmaker Nitin Deshmukh recounts his harrowing experience of being kidnapped and forcibly involved in a political coup, highlighting the underhanded tactics used by Modi's party to gain control over state governance.**

In the turbulent political landscape of Maharashtra, a tale of coercion and manipulation has emerged, revealing how India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party employs a disturbing strategy known as "resort politics." This tactic allows the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to exert influence over state governments by isolating dissenting lawmakers in luxury resorts, thereby orchestrating political insurrections.

In an alarming recount, Nitin Deshmukh, a lawmaker for Maharashtra, shared his experiences during a seemingly routine assembly vote in June 2022. He had been invited to dinner by a senior party official but soon found himself caught in a web of deceit. Instead of a peaceful evening, he was taken against his will on a lengthy car ride accompanied by a convoy of vehicles. It quickly became clear that this was no ordinary outing—it was a calculated abduction.

Destination unknown, the lawmaker was transported across state lines to a plush hotel, where he was enclosed and monitored. In an effort to assert his autonomy, Deshmukh attempted to escape, but his defiance was met with hostility; he was restrained and drugged to prevent further attempts. This grim scenario was not an isolated incident but a deliberate strategy employed by power brokers within the BJP.

The overarching goal of such tactics is to weaken state governments by ensuring they lose a crucial number of seats, which could lead to a loss of majority and compel existing leaders to step aside. Deshmukh's ordeal was only one among multiple similar cases where lawmakers were whisked away to resort hotels, kept isolated, and coerced into joining a breakaway faction aimed at destabilizing the ruling coalition.

According to accounts from various officials familiar with the occurrences, these maneuvers are part of a broader political strategy that Modi's party adopts in response to failing electoral prospects. As the BJP attempts to consolidate control over other states, the use of intimidation tactics and "resort politics" has not only raised ethical concerns but also thrown India's democratic processes into question.

This alarming narrative of power struggles showcases the lengths political entities are willing to go to achieve dominance, posing serious implications for governance and accountability in India's vibrant yet volatile democracy.