Interesting
Indian National Election- 2014
The 2014 election have many similarities
with 2008 American election. High level youth engagement is its new dimension.
Social media has emerged as a new marketing tool. It is impacting more than 150 MP seats grossly.
For
the first time, youths and candidates are using it on a high scale to reach the
masses and convey political messages. Agenda good governance (GG) is in focus with
corruption is in side. Hence, 2014 election has become an interesting, noisy and
curious election.
The Government of India failed to meet
public expectations in its second term- particularly the young. Bush badly performed in his
second term. And Obama was hope for Americans. Hence, a situational Obama wave
was developed in 2008. Similarly Narendra Modi is posing to market the
situation created by present congress led government of India. But SA Aiyar in his
Swaminomics says “There is modi effect, but not a Modi wave.” It seems correct
to a greater extent.
Political market buzz says none is going to have
absolute majority. A triangular contest is most probable. One is Narendra Modi
led BJP. The other is Congress led Rahul Gandhi. And last may be BJP or Cong
supported third front. Coalition before election could not get the desired shape.
It is a dream on paper. But in case of fractured mandate, it will be a potent
option.
There is a big question. Will Modi-of-2014
will be able to prove a photocopy of Obama-of-2008? There is similarity between them in
their style of functioning and marketing. One, both is well read and having
in-depth knowledge of politics. Two, both are ICT savvy. Three, both are
authoritative and decisive. Four, both are good orators and famous for their
effective speeches. Five, both are self-made. Six, both are pursuing
personality politics over party politics. Seven, while Obama is internet, Modi
is a 3D innovative user in politics.
Elections are contested on issues called
Election agenda. There are many issues in political market. One is good
governance (GG). Two is corruption. Three is unemployment. Four is economic
slowdown. Five is price rise. Six is development. Seven is vote bank politics.
Eight is dynastic rule. And there is a long list of issues including major or
minor.
What is the chief or main election agenda in
2014? It is yet not very clear. Under
present circumstances GG is taking the centre position in close association
with corruption and other issues. Recent
social developments made some hidden agenda visible. Corruption is a long
standing issue before our citizens.
BJP tried to make issue of corruption an
agenda in 2004. 2004 vision document in its war on corruption heading reveal
it. It said BJP believed that corruption is the greatest hurdle in India’s
development march.
The party believed that the menace of
corruption had to be fought at all levels. But it couldn’t see light of the
day. It was like a seed in infertile soil. Recent Anna led agitation cured
soil. Hence, barren lands become fertile. Therefore, gave proper condition to
seed to sprout.
Now the invisible potent social issue of
corruption is on surface and shining. Corruption is now a big and visible
issue. But it is in its childhood. It needs good nursing to give it a healthy
and fast growth.
Every issue needs it own time to bear
fruits. Corruption being newly born baby can’t be a fruit bearing in near
future. Hence, it is in the role of a side hero. GG is taking the role of main
hero of 2014 election picture.
Anna and team raised their voice against
corruption in last two years. Baba Ramdeo has coined black money issue. Both
assisted each other issue wise. Public got a new hope and started dreaming
something good. It sets corruption as one of the core agenda in Indian politics.
These agitations gave a direction and turning to Indian
politics. They made a cancerous issue –invisible corruption-visible. It is a
start towards cleaning of the politics and promoting entry of good people into
politics who are averse to it.
In political marketing too demand and supply
is very relevant. GG and fight against corruption are political products high
in demand. Those, who supplied it, won the elections. GG sellers are many like
Nitish Kumar, Narendra modi, Shiela Dixit, ShivRaj Chauhan, etc. As a result,
public repeated them.
But, none is selling the political
product fight against corruption except AAP. This is the reason it has made
Delhi assembly election a triangular contest, albeit it’s very short life of
less than a year.
GG is now a matured and fruit bearing
political agenda. It repeated many chief ministers in Indian states. Our PM
Manmohan Singh repeated in 2009 on this score.
Mahwish
Hafeez in his write-up reflection says any individual party in nearly two
decades, reaped the reward for good governance, dramatic economic growth during
its first term. The result shows a kind of respect and acknowledgment of the
policies launched by Manmohan Singh.
But two year old agenda of corruption
is in its adolescent age. It will take time to be a matured and full-fledged
election agenda to bring fruits like GG. Our political executives need to wait
to harness its potential.
Arvind kejriwal and others broke with Anna. They associated for a
very short span. Kejriwal with his broken team formed Aam Admi Party(AAP) a
year ago. AAP has come out with a new ideology. It is trying to clean dirt from
politics from its symbol broom. And it is trying to supply what is highly
demanded in political market.
Corruption free politics is
utmost demanded political product. Except AAP none is supplying it. This issue
is damaging and hitting hard all political parties. Therefore, all parties are
compelled to amend their ways to supply this product in order to maintain and
sustain their market share.
AAP, Anna and Baba have given a new direction and turn to Indian
politics. Indian political landscape is changing fast. Young India – most of
them unemployed or under employed- will play a key role. They have taken social
media as political tool to engage themselves in election activities.
This young energy has energized the
election to make it more interesting and curious. For the first time, social
media will be in use on a large scale as one of the prominent political tool
for political marketing. Candidates of more than 200 seats are taking help to
this new tool to engage voters.
India is a youthful nation. India’s
young people are on the move. They are reaching for new opportunities made
possible. The United Nations defines youth as people between ages 15 and 24. By
this measure, there are approximately 240 million youth in India, about 20% of
the population, according to preliminary projections from the 2011
census. That’s up from 195
million in 2001. The median age in India is 25, meaning that half the population is below 25 and half is
above it.
The youth’s political participation in
terms of attending rallies and campaigns is on the rise, according to survey
and data collated by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
(CSDS). UN-Habitat and IRIS Knowledge Foundation released State of the
Urban Youth-India 2013 report.
Report reveals nearly 71% of urban
youngsters showed interest in politics in 2013 as compared to 45% in 2009.
Young men displayed nearly twice as much interest as young women. Along with interest in politics,
youngsters’ involvement in political campaigning also increased. Twenty- two
per cent youngsters participated in campaign activities in 2011as compared to
14% in 2009. Increasing participation of youth with social media will give a
new color to 2014 election match.
Almost youngsters are social media
savvy. They are now using fast and cheap social media to reach the voters and
convey message. As a result 2014 is going to witness many new innovations and
changes.
Bad governance and continuous disclosures
of scams have highlighted the need and demand for GG. Down going economic growth
rate (GDP) accelerated the quest for GG.
Good people didn’t show keen interest in
politics before Delhi result. But Delhi result of AAP changed this scenario.
Now good people are joining politics willingly-who were loath to it. \
AAP is doing a nice job by giving tickets to such personalities. This step of AAP is a game changer in Indian politics. And others have to follow it. Now many good, reputed and famous persons are contesting elections.
AAP is doing a nice job by giving tickets to such personalities. This step of AAP is a game changer in Indian politics. And others have to follow it. Now many good, reputed and famous persons are contesting elections.
Failure of Congress led government on GG
front is the strength to Modi led BJP. Modi is marketing his GG of Gujarat as
chief minister. This makes our election very interesting. And finally GG is
emerging as chief agenda with corruption inside.
Heera Lal (Views are personal and based on different sources)
Ref:
5. http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Swaminomics/entry/there-s-a-modi-effect-but-not-a-modi-wave
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