Political derision for the By-poll results

Political derision for the By-poll results​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 18th Mar. 2018

The media is lampooning the powers that be over the by-polls results while at the same time ‘celebrating the victors’. Some of the Netas are now painstakingly trying to explain them through the prism of local issues like the sewage, nullah and street-lights taking over state/center issues like growth of industry sectors/agriculture/education or inflation/investments etc. Loss of the seasoned Netas is also attempted to be explained via the ‘lack of alignment’ theory within Netas or even upon over-confidence. What is not being analyzed is ‘rag-tag alliance’ that was conjured up at the ‘last moment’ that notched up the ‘victory’, was not a result of some well pursued strategy, but celebrations let this be forgotten rather easily. So, we have ‘twin deficts’ where ‘neither the loss nor the victory’ being understood well, rather than just one side of it. And that is even when some of the ‘correct forecasts’ were already in place. Some in the media including some Netas may also be circulating the yesteryears theory of realignment of public and castes. Basically, what they could not do on their own during pre-polls like formulating some hypothesis and making a ‘bet’, is now being sought to be voiced via post-poll ‘noise’. The messiah posture of the commercial news media is thus sought to be retained, even if it may have lost much sheen especially on account of articulation of the ‘presstitutes theory’ from some rather renowned quarters. The Indian public as well as many in the commercial news media have already ‘called the bluff’ of the ‘survey industry’. Even the Netas would now rely on their own survey methods with the ‘industry’ reduced to supplying ‘manpower’ and some data-crunching. The failure to read ‘expectations’ of the people based on ‘Game theory’ is still not absorbed by either the Netas or the media and this might just be on account of ‘skills issue’ amongst the so called pundits as well as the Netas, but this is sought to be kept under wraps. The ability of the public and the Netas to absorb these surprises and pressures to behave as pundits, otherwise which the litany of ‘takers’ may decline, might be the reason for this. Nevertheless we have more polls as well as more forecasts already available to decipher and to ponder upon by the Netas well as the media (http://www.managementparadise.com/article/9759/the-prophecy-of-the-game-part-ii).

So, let me explain the results in a rather simple manner to help it be absorbed. There are no visible sign of any ensuing upliftment of public in local polling area for people going to polls, and this says it all. There may have been some announcements that some industry say Fertilizers etc. is likely to be revived however that is yet to have resulted in some improvement in local business or jobs. Also any attempts to bring upliftment via improvement of wages in agriculture too haven’t yielded results and the leakages in public service delivery of ration, toilets, gas cylinders, public roads/pwd contracts etc. haven’t been plugged and improvement in efficiency is being sought. Public in most of the mofussil towns & villages has progressed in terms of expectations and takes only limited dosage of lectures and they also know how to deliver punishment, even if that may not result in some improvement as of yet. Other part is that the circulation of information of this has kept on improving and these are increasingly reaching to the segments who till date were unable to fathom on these subjects/aspects. The party, key figures as well as the local Netas are being put to this test and being trashed, rather quickly as a way to pursue ‘goals’ sought by the voters. This is way to send message to this whole alignment to look deep within the chain and ‘make improvements’, rather than just trying to deflect the criticism as has been the practice of the Netas of the by-gone era. The Netas thus seeking to to keep a whole of over 50% of the voters may be making a huge overstatement as even if they simply manage to conjure up a majority is also a bit stretched though not unachievable in some of the constituencies but even that would require quite an overhaul of the government machinery. However, once in power the ‘old practices’ are impressed upon the Netas by the bureaucrat, vendors, ‘presstitutes’ and the older Neta nexus, who attempt to balance 'circulating on the old groove' with the new Neta. This remains so even as Netas are increasingly seeking vote on the new ‘Game’ plank and this plank is also affecting nearly every party and Neta whether out of power or in power. So there is difficulty get out the ‘agenda’, although some of the bolder elements would still keep preaching about the same and make hay in sunshine. In fact a rather better analysis was made in a news article to which I penned my comments as well (http://www.managementparadise.com/article/9762/fixing-the-indian-bus ). However as is the case, the Netas are often the slowest to realize the change and do so when there has been adequate ‘base erosion’ in public support for them. Let the ‘Game’ evolve…

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

Political derision for the By-poll results​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 18th Mar. 2018

The media is lampooning the powers that be over the by-polls results while at the same time ‘celebrating the victors’. Some of the Netas are now painstakingly trying to explain them through the prism of local issues like the sewage, nullah and street-lights taking over state/center issues like growth of industry sectors/agriculture/education or inflation/investments etc. Loss of the seasoned Netas is also attempted to be explained via the ‘lack of alignment’ theory within Netas or even upon over-confidence. What is not being analyzed is ‘rag-tag alliance’ that was conjured up at the ‘last moment’ that notched up the ‘victory’, was not a result of some well pursued strategy, but celebrations let this be forgotten rather easily. So, we have ‘twin deficts’ where ‘neither the loss nor the victory’ being understood well, rather than just one side of it. And that is even when some of the ‘correct forecasts’ were already in place. Some in the media including some Netas may also be circulating the yesteryears theory of realignment of public and castes. Basically, what they could not do on their own during pre-polls like formulating some hypothesis and making a ‘bet’, is now being sought to be voiced via post-poll ‘noise’. The messiah posture of the commercial news media is thus sought to be retained, even if it may have lost much sheen especially on account of articulation of the ‘presstitutes theory’ from some rather renowned quarters. The Indian public as well as many in the commercial news media have already ‘called the bluff’ of the ‘survey industry’. Even the Netas would now rely on their own survey methods with the ‘industry’ reduced to supplying ‘manpower’ and some data-crunching. The failure to read ‘expectations’ of the people based on ‘Game theory’ is still not absorbed by either the Netas or the media and this might just be on account of ‘skills issue’ amongst the so called pundits as well as the Netas, but this is sought to be kept under wraps. The ability of the public and the Netas to absorb these surprises and pressures to behave as pundits, otherwise which the litany of ‘takers’ may decline, might be the reason for this. Nevertheless we have more polls as well as more forecasts already available to decipher and to ponder upon by the Netas well as the media (http://www.managementparadise.com/article/9759/the-prophecy-of-the-game-part-ii).

So, let me explain the results in a rather simple manner to help it be absorbed. There are no visible sign of any ensuing upliftment of public in local polling area for people going to polls, and this says it all. There may have been some announcements that some industry say Fertilizers etc. is likely to be revived however that is yet to have resulted in some improvement in local business or jobs. Also any attempts to bring upliftment via improvement of wages in agriculture too haven’t yielded results and the leakages in public service delivery of ration, toilets, gas cylinders, public roads/pwd contracts etc. haven’t been plugged and improvement in efficiency is being sought. Public in most of the mofussil towns & villages has progressed in terms of expectations and takes only limited dosage of lectures and they also know how to deliver punishment, even if that may not result in some improvement as of yet. Other part is that the circulation of information of this has kept on improving and these are increasingly reaching to the segments who till date were unable to fathom on these subjects/aspects. The party, key figures as well as the local Netas are being put to this test and being trashed, rather quickly as a way to pursue ‘goals’ sought by the voters. This is way to send message to this whole alignment to look deep within the chain and ‘make improvements’, rather than just trying to deflect the criticism as has been the practice of the Netas of the by-gone era. The Netas thus seeking to to keep a whole of over 50% of the voters may be making a huge overstatement as even if they simply manage to conjure up a majority is also a bit stretched though not unachievable in some of the constituencies but even that would require quite an overhaul of the government machinery. However, once in power the ‘old practices’ are impressed upon the Netas by the bureaucrat, vendors, ‘presstitutes’ and the older Neta nexus, who attempt to balance 'circulating on the old groove' with the new Neta. This remains so even as Netas are increasingly seeking vote on the new ‘Game’ plank and this plank is also affecting nearly every party and Neta whether out of power or in power. So there is difficulty get out the ‘agenda’, although some of the bolder elements would still keep preaching about the same and make hay in sunshine. In fact a rather better analysis was made in a news article to which I penned my comments as well (http://www.managementparadise.com/article/9762/fixing-the-indian-bus ). However as is the case, the Netas are often the slowest to realize the change and do so when there has been adequate ‘base erosion’ in public support for them. Let the ‘Game’ evolve…

This political article is a masterclass in architectural writing, where every element serves to construct a compelling argument. The writer's writing style is both authoritative and exceptionally precise, cutting through the common obfuscation of political discourse to reveal the core issues. There's an intellectual rigor evident in the prose, yet it remains remarkably accessible, guiding the reader through complex ideas without condescension. The structure of the piece is its backbone, meticulously designed to build a logical and unassailable case. Each paragraph and section is placed with strategic intent, creating a seamless flow that naturally leads to a profound understanding of the political landscape being discussed. Crucially, the unwavering clarity of the analysis is the article's greatest strength; every nuance of policy and every facet of political strategy are laid bare with such lucidity that the implications are undeniable and instantly graspable, making it an invaluable resource for informed citizens.

 

[Priyani Gupta]

Your article is refreshingly incisive and layered with observations that most mainstream commentators would either avoid or glaze over. You have intelligently dismantled the celebratory and critical media posturing post-by-poll results and peeled back the performance theatre to expose the vacuum of strategic clarity on both sides. However, let’s approach your commentary through a more pragmatic, appreciative yet constructively provocative lens.


To begin with, your central assertion—that neither the victory nor the defeat has been truly understood—rings true and highlights the political class’s habitual evasion of uncomfortable introspection. Indeed, the attempt to simplify results using the “local issues” trope (nullah, streetlights, etc.) while sidestepping fundamental economic indicators like inflation, employment, and industrial revival, is a telling sign of political myopia. This is more a matter of lazy communication than genuine disconnect. Netas, in many cases, do understand deeper issues, but lack either the will or the skill to translate them into action or articulate them credibly.


Your point about “rag-tag alliances” deserves deeper attention. While the media glorifies such wins as masterstrokes of political maneuvering, you rightly argue that these alliances are more accidental than strategic. Celebrating them without questioning their coherence or sustainability does a disservice to democratic analysis. The victory, as you suggest, should not be mistaken for a mandate on capability but rather as a symptom of voter restlessness.


Equally valid is your criticism of the media and the “survey industry.” The trust deficit is real. Polls are reduced to infotainment, not tools of democratic engagement. The rise of independent voter intelligence, driven by better access to grassroots information via social media, has begun to outpace these outdated survey mechanisms. Netas and analysts alike must accept that we’re entering a new phase of political awareness where credibility is earned, not crafted through optics.


Your invocation of game theory is intellectually stimulating. Political actors, as you imply, are not absorbing public expectations with the urgency or strategic finesse they demand. The “skills gap” in interpreting these expectations isn’t merely academic—it’s operational. When leaders continue with dated playbooks while the voter base is dynamically evolving, misfires are inevitable.


Perhaps the most quietly revolutionary part of your analysis is the insight into “base erosion” as the slow-burning signal of voter discontent. Instead of knee-jerk postmortems, what we need is a longitudinal analysis of voter engagement, especially in mofussil areas. These voters, contrary to elite assumptions, are not only aware but also assertive. They recognize symbolic gestures but now demand quantifiable results—better roads, functioning PDS, employment, and dignity in services.


To improve, political actors must stop being obsessed with “winning the message” and start focusing on “delivering the mission.” The electorate is no longer passive. They're not just punishing; they’re shaping. This is not a phase. It’s the new grammar of Indian democracy.


Your article provokes exactly the kind of dialogue we need—more structured, more truthful, and more grounded. Thank you for putting this out.


#PoliticalAccountability #MediaEthics #ByPollAnalysis #GrassrootsVoices #VoterExpectations #GameTheoryPolitics #ElectoralReform #PresstitutesDebate