Faces, Phases of 2019 India Election
In an interview, Yogendra Yadav states that The current ruling establishment(NDA) represents some of the worst periods of free democratic India. Also, he perceives the prime minister as a liar to the core. But still, they won the election
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvDj0DFiVE&t=674s
A few reports from India may point to a situation where the country is heading to a surveillance state. But still, they won. It is not just because NDA was able to exploit all the possible faultiness in the name of religion, gender, caste, region, etc. It is also because the opposition (UPA+) could not project a compelling narrative of hope. It is also because of the 3M( Money/Marketing/Machine) power of BJP. Partly, It also reflects the degraded state of the Indian civic mind since the mandate was won by divisive emotional issues rather than the real issues that benefit the people.
There were many phases in this election and it took almost two months to complete all these phases. Towards the end, it looked like people were tired of the arguments and struggling to find a silver line among all those soundbites. Such an exercise favored the ruling party. Many reports often cited that the election commission was partial and favored the ruling establishment.
Phase-by-phase issues affecting social mobility and the welfare of society were fused out in the high voltage of meaningless rhetorics. At first, it was the jobs and growth, and during that phase, it looked like the opposition had a grip on the game. But after Pulwama terrorist attack and with the help from the media, the ruling establishment played it in their favor. Soon it was about the rivalry between India and Pakistan, hatred and nationalistic sentiments are the new narratives. In another phase, It is about past prime ministers and the past deeds rather than current issues and promises. In Bengal, it is about "Jai Sreeram". In Kerala it is about the 'Sabarimala controversy'. In Assam, it was about the "National Register for Citizens(NRC) issue'. In Rajasthan, it is about saffron terror and Pragya.
NDA and mainly BJP used the machine(RSS/BJP workers and a strong organization) and the media, as some writers pointed out. It is another form of Identity politics that offers hope for many while providing loopholes and nationalistic sentiments to justify the violence ingrained in it morally. They provided just enough hope and doubts coupled with enough rhetoric on majoritarianism. While they talked about the divisive agenda, they also walked the talk by projecting the faces like Pragya Takur, Sakshi Maharaj, etc.
The opposition talked about Ideology, and there were some initiatives and manifestos aimed at more inclusive growth. But they failed to provide a narrative of hope, especially to northern India. They talked about Ideology but were unable to walk the talk. In UP, it looked like the parties were merely scrambling for their space and quarreling for power. They failed to back candidates like Kanhaiya Kumar. They could not seize the opportunities to send the right signals of hope. Mighty BJP played tricks to thwart the opposition unity while bringing many cases against the opposition leaders. Despite that opposition was in disarray, it looked like they were more worried about losing a chance to grab the power and space rather than sending the signals of hope.
Among all these high money-powered politricks, we need to know that in the end, it is about the person who presses the button, the person who votes. We cannot alter the outcome by only opposing an idea or the man (Say Modi or Trump), symbolically identified as the power center of such an Idea. Also, it is not helpful to put people into Kammi, Sanghi, Congi brackets, and boxes, and it is not going to work or heal the nation. There are reasons behind BJP’s win, but there are many other reasons why the opposition UPA+ failed.
In some respects, it will be better we don't utter the words Modi( or Trump) but talk more about Ideology, future changes, and connect with the faces who press that voting machine buttons. Without seeing them as rednecks just because they are Trump followers or a 'Blind Bakth' because they are a Modi follower. As much as possible, utter less and less the names like T or the M. The trouble is when there is a problem, with the forces behind the establishments can disown T or M. They can fully put the blame on them and continue the same divisive hidden agendas.
For a positive, balanced, and forceful change towards a better country and its citizens, we must see the helpless faces behind the supporters of political identities (Trump/Modi/Rahul/Obama) to understand why there is a feeling of victimhood and resentments among them. It may be because of propaganda, but still, take steps to alleviate that. In the US, sometimes, most privileged classes feel victimized. Some of the economically flourished, privileged people from India, who graduated, got high salaried jobs, even migrated to the US. Somehow, they feel victimized in India even while living in posh suburbs. Don’t just blame the propaganda but have a constant continuous effort and communication to address those resentments and reduce the feelings of victimhood.
As some of my friends said, someday the forts will fall, the Left forts in Bengal and Tripura fell. When there are such forts on one side, there can be resentments on the other side. It is reported how the people with BJP in Tripura/Bengal are not just Hindutva proponents but also include former Congress/left supporters and others who resent the ruling state establishment. The NDA was able to cash in such resentments and build a coalition around them. That can be a lesson for UPA+ and the lessons from the machine of foot soldiers. This time Jagan won in Andhra, cashing in resentments and hope within the Reddy community and building a coalition around it. He also spent nearly a year among the people conducting many Jana Pada Yatras.
Blind love or hate to M/T won't help, but understanding the persons behind those sentiments and knocking on those doors may help build a better India. India reaped the benefits of early reforms of the 90s and 2000s. Current India, in some way, just serving the early benefited (the other side of the digital divide)100 million or so privileged middle class. The growth of this class is slowing down. We need more investment in education and healthcare and focused efforts to uplift the socio-economically backward groups.
Links :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvDj0DFiVE&t=674s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV8I82BBktY
https://time.com/5586415/india-election-narendra-modi-2019/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvDj0DFiVE&t=674s
A few reports from India may point to a situation where the country is heading to a surveillance state. But still, they won. It is not just because NDA was able to exploit all the possible faultiness in the name of religion, gender, caste, region, etc. It is also because the opposition (UPA+) could not project a compelling narrative of hope. It is also because of the 3M( Money/Marketing/Machine) power of BJP. Partly, It also reflects the degraded state of the Indian civic mind since the mandate was won by divisive emotional issues rather than the real issues that benefit the people.
Phase-by-phase issues affecting social mobility and the welfare of society were fused out in the high voltage of meaningless rhetorics. At first, it was the jobs and growth, and during that phase, it looked like the opposition had a grip on the game. But after Pulwama terrorist attack and with the help from the media, the ruling establishment played it in their favor. Soon it was about the rivalry between India and Pakistan, hatred and nationalistic sentiments are the new narratives. In another phase, It is about past prime ministers and the past deeds rather than current issues and promises. In Bengal, it is about "Jai Sreeram". In Kerala it is about the 'Sabarimala controversy'. In Assam, it was about the "National Register for Citizens(NRC) issue'. In Rajasthan, it is about saffron terror and Pragya.
NDA and mainly BJP used the machine(RSS/BJP workers and a strong organization) and the media, as some writers pointed out. It is another form of Identity politics that offers hope for many while providing loopholes and nationalistic sentiments to justify the violence ingrained in it morally. They provided just enough hope and doubts coupled with enough rhetoric on majoritarianism. While they talked about the divisive agenda, they also walked the talk by projecting the faces like Pragya Takur, Sakshi Maharaj, etc.
The opposition talked about Ideology, and there were some initiatives and manifestos aimed at more inclusive growth. But they failed to provide a narrative of hope, especially to northern India. They talked about Ideology but were unable to walk the talk. In UP, it looked like the parties were merely scrambling for their space and quarreling for power. They failed to back candidates like Kanhaiya Kumar. They could not seize the opportunities to send the right signals of hope. Mighty BJP played tricks to thwart the opposition unity while bringing many cases against the opposition leaders. Despite that opposition was in disarray, it looked like they were more worried about losing a chance to grab the power and space rather than sending the signals of hope.
Among all these high money-powered politricks, we need to know that in the end, it is about the person who presses the button, the person who votes. We cannot alter the outcome by only opposing an idea or the man (Say Modi or Trump), symbolically identified as the power center of such an Idea. Also, it is not helpful to put people into Kammi, Sanghi, Congi brackets, and boxes, and it is not going to work or heal the nation. There are reasons behind BJP’s win, but there are many other reasons why the opposition UPA+ failed.
In some respects, it will be better we don't utter the words Modi( or Trump) but talk more about Ideology, future changes, and connect with the faces who press that voting machine buttons. Without seeing them as rednecks just because they are Trump followers or a 'Blind Bakth' because they are a Modi follower. As much as possible, utter less and less the names like T or the M. The trouble is when there is a problem, with the forces behind the establishments can disown T or M. They can fully put the blame on them and continue the same divisive hidden agendas.
For a positive, balanced, and forceful change towards a better country and its citizens, we must see the helpless faces behind the supporters of political identities (Trump/Modi/Rahul/Obama) to understand why there is a feeling of victimhood and resentments among them. It may be because of propaganda, but still, take steps to alleviate that. In the US, sometimes, most privileged classes feel victimized. Some of the economically flourished, privileged people from India, who graduated, got high salaried jobs, even migrated to the US. Somehow, they feel victimized in India even while living in posh suburbs. Don’t just blame the propaganda but have a constant continuous effort and communication to address those resentments and reduce the feelings of victimhood.
Blind love or hate to M/T won't help, but understanding the persons behind those sentiments and knocking on those doors may help build a better India. India reaped the benefits of early reforms of the 90s and 2000s. Current India, in some way, just serving the early benefited (the other side of the digital divide)100 million or so privileged middle class. The growth of this class is slowing down. We need more investment in education and healthcare and focused efforts to uplift the socio-economically backward groups.
Links :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvDj0DFiVE&t=674s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV8I82BBktY
https://time.com/5586415/india-election-narendra-modi-2019/
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