The Electoral Challenge – goes up

The Electoral Challenge – goes up

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 1st Oct. 2016

The current political environment is reeling under impact from the change in response pattern of the country towards its security. The changed response is what the voters would want the incumbent governments as well as political challengers to be measured upon, especially when they are seeking re-elections. That is saying what changes have been seen in governance and results obtained from such change from incumbent and what is the offer from various challengers and their track-record. This is even while most parties and leaders may still be going round the beaten tracks wherein what mattered was making lot’s of noise with little deliberation towards ‘fixing’ any single issue, so to say.

Not that everything is likely to change in a jiffy, however it does imply a greater push for say ‘leaders’ in Delhi or other electorally bound states (with media scrutiny) to be seen as driving changes and achieving better results locally to build credibility for seeking elections in other states than relying on local canvassing and rallies. As it is, there is much greater scrutiny on advertorials and people would prefer promises of change, but backed in equal measures by credibility which is above challenge. Of course it also implies a temporary set-back for netas, who have only delivered making motions for change rather than actual achievements on ground & able to stand scrutiny from other challengers.

While the actual developments on the security side might be much smaller and minuscule compared to say Kargil, however what it goes on to depict is that response expectations of India’s democracy from its systems and institutions might be changing. And thus the political parties and leaders need to take note and buck up. Having endorsed the actions as has been the case for most parties, the ‘leaders’ may not be in a position to shy away from corresponding responsibilities. Although the traditional analysis might be to interpret these developments as a leg up for some select party/leader and much greater media savvy-ness, event planning and relationship building across political spectrum. What is not noted is that all these options and tools existed including professionals who would weigh the use of these options, however were not used with a marked preference for milder choices.

Then of course, there would be implications of this towards selection of choices for our investments. That is to say about the kind of capabilities to be nurtured for building up. So far, what have mostly been the bets is what was proposed by our businesses with political connects rather than what may be required to tide over and ameliorate a situation. The action, song and dance in media has been around the same lines and that may include the finances as well. Henceforth what we may witness is a study for what may be required to ameliorate the situation and of course these may be debated upon from various points of views including numerous interpretations. Let’s see if polity and leaders and the media is ‘game’ for this…

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

The Electoral Challenge – goes up

As democratic processes continue to evolve and adapt to the digital age, the electoral challenge is becoming increasingly complex. Traditional methods of voter engagement and mobilization are being augmented—or even supplanted—by sophisticated digital campaigns that leverage social media, data analytics, and targeted advertising. While these advancements offer new opportunities for political parties and candidates to connect with constituents, they also introduce a host of new issues, including the spread of misinformation, the erosion of privacy, and the potential for foreign interference. The rise of these digital tools has made it more difficult to ensure the integrity of elections, as bad actors can manipulate public opinion and sow discord with relative ease. Moreover, the increasing costs associated with running digital campaigns have raised concerns about the influence of money in politics, as well-funded groups and individuals can dominate the online landscape, drowning out the voices of less affluent candidates and parties. As the electoral challenge goes up, so too must the efforts to address these issues, through robust regulatory frameworks, enhanced cybersecurity measures, and public education campaigns that empower voters to discern fact from fiction. The future of democracy hangs in the balance, and it is imperative that stakeholders from all sectors work together to navigate these challenges and ensure that elections remain free, fair, and reflective of the will of the people.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

The Electoral Challenge – goes up

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 1st Oct. 2016

The current political environment is reeling under impact from the change in response pattern of the country towards its security. The changed response is what the voters would want the incumbent governments as well as political challengers to be measured upon, especially when they are seeking re-elections. That is saying what changes have been seen in governance and results obtained from such change from incumbent and what is the offer from various challengers and their track-record. This is even while most parties and leaders may still be going round the beaten tracks wherein what mattered was making lot’s of noise with little deliberation towards ‘fixing’ any single issue, so to say.

Not that everything is likely to change in a jiffy, however it does imply a greater push for say ‘leaders’ in Delhi or other electorally bound states (with media scrutiny) to be seen as driving changes and achieving better results locally to build credibility for seeking elections in other states than relying on local canvassing and rallies. As it is, there is much greater scrutiny on advertorials and people would prefer promises of change, but backed in equal measures by credibility which is above challenge. Of course it also implies a temporary set-back for netas, who have only delivered making motions for change rather than actual achievements on ground & able to stand scrutiny from other challengers.

While the actual developments on the security side might be much smaller and minuscule compared to say Kargil, however what it goes on to depict is that response expectations of India’s democracy from its systems and institutions might be changing. And thus the political parties and leaders need to take note and buck up. Having endorsed the actions as has been the case for most parties, the ‘leaders’ may not be in a position to shy away from corresponding responsibilities. Although the traditional analysis might be to interpret these developments as a leg up for some select party/leader and much greater media savvy-ness, event planning and relationship building across political spectrum. What is not noted is that all these options and tools existed including professionals who would weigh the use of these options, however were not used with a marked preference for milder choices.

Then of course, there would be implications of this towards selection of choices for our investments. That is to say about the kind of capabilities to be nurtured for building up. So far, what have mostly been the bets is what was proposed by our businesses with political connects rather than what may be required to tide over and ameliorate a situation. The action, song and dance in media has been around the same lines and that may include the finances as well. Henceforth what we may witness is a study for what may be required to ameliorate the situation and of course these may be debated upon from various points of views including numerous interpretations. Let’s see if polity and leaders and the media is ‘game’ for this…

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