Heath, Oliver creator text xu| 1999 continuing ng p.2511-517 The political and regional expansion of the BJP has been characterised by a three-tiered growth in its social appeal. In its homeland of primary states its core of social support, the upper castes, has remained intact; in the secondary states, its new social base comprises OBCs as well; in the tertiary states where it has made giant strides the scheduled castes and the Muslims have emerged as supporters and this has largely been because of its allies. By delicately redefining itself and its social base, the party has been able to venture out from its nesting ground in the north and spread its wings. - Reproduced Bhartiya Janta Party Elections Economic and Political Weekly 180718