Arvind Kejriwal’s brief detention by police and an attack on his car in Narendra Modi’s Gujarat show the BJP’s frustration ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in India. Despite the party’s media brigade and a host of pre-election surveys all but declaring Modi the next prime minister of India, the BJP is well aware of the danger of relying on made-to-order polls and the damage the former tax man can do the party with each passing day. It sees Kejriwal and his party of mavericks as the spoiler that will keep it from grabbing power in Delhi.
Retired Gen. V. K. Singh may declare the BJP as the only political party which has the nation’s welfare at heart, but the party is unlikely to win votes by welcoming into its fold people who have a personal grudge against the government or the ruling party. Kiran Bedi is another such person who joined the party in the recent past.
Instead of coming out with dubious polls once every fortnight, the media would do the voters a yeoman’s service if they educate the people about where the parties stand on different issues. A comparative chart with the stated positions of different parties on issues will go a long way in helping the voters decide which party is best for them. Television debates between candidates are helpful too. But the media’s role in TV debates should be restricted to that of a referee who doesn’t take sides. Let us know how each of the parties will solve a particular problem.
But media’s role in shaping public opinion in India is limited as millions of people can’t read and millions of others do not have access to mass media. But these millions vote too. Don’t think that just because they are illiterate or don’t have access to mass media they are stupid. They are not. Ironically, without the burden of education, they are capable of thinking straight. They can and do detect manipulators among us. And unlike the educated, they don’t talk. They vote.
The party hankering for power should also know that India is a country of different cultures and issues peculiar to specific areas determine the way people vote.
So don’t be worried by the so-called pre-election surveys. India is not ready for a fascist government yet.
• [email protected]
