Good Governance- Chief Election
Agenda
The 2014 election will have many
similarities with 2008 American election. High level youth engagement will be
its new dimension. Social media will be a new marketing tool. For the first
time, youth will use it on a high scale to reach the masses and convey
political message. Agenda good governance will be in focus with corruption is
side. Hence 2014 will be a very interesting political match.
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 government at centre. 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 air says none will get
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 seems a distant dream. 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 are many matches between them in
their style of functioning and marketing. One, both are 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 will be chief or main election agenda in
2014? It is yet not clear. Under
present circumstances GG will take the centre position in close association
with corruption. 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 unfertile soil. Recent Anna led agitation cured soil. Hence barren lands
become fertile. Therefore, gave proper condition to seed to become tree.
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 will be in
the role of a side hero. GG will take 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 a core agenda in Indian politics. This gives
a direction 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 all
political parties. Therefore, they are compelled to amend their ways to supply
this product in order to maintain their market share.
AAP,
Anna and Baba have given a new direction to Indian politics. Indian political
landscape is changing fast. Young India – most of them unemployed or under
employed- will play a key role. They will use social media as political tool to
engage themselves in election activities. This
young energy will energizes the election to make it more interesting. For the
first time, social media will be in use on a large scale as one of the
prominent political tool for political marketing.
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. This would make our election very interesting. And finally GG will
take centre stage 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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