Political Positioning in Era of Appeal & Angst
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 13th December 2016
The search for post Demonetization theme for Political leaders to follow, now seems to be on. Especially so since some crucial elections are due. While leaders have just started off with the drive to offer balm to people standing in queues in the poll bound states. The ruling parties are ogling towards the MNREGA and other government schemes which can help subside the impact for those who may have been caught on the wrong foot especially so in the rural areas. It may be noted that even in urban areas, it the migrant labourers may have taken some blows and went back to hinterland to the rescue through MNREGA. The political tone setting in commercial news media depending upon its loyalties goes mostly on account of poor implementation alone rather than overall delivery to people through the exercise. While some on the other hand would swear by the sex-appeal of the demonetization drive with supposed impact on the rich and the corrupt. Then of course some in media would bring out the argument of lack of preparation for the exercise without even exploring the preparation made the government and its bureaucrats for distribution of Coal blocks, contracts or airwaves etc. Of course there have been some tragedies in this exercise and that is likely to remain a stickler in some of the areas provided parties decide to back some of the candidates through some positive action in electoral huslings, but looks like no one is thinking about it except for serving their own dish which is a mix of hyperbole and rhetoric. Instead of sheding crocodile tears, if the parties and/or leaders decide to let some of the people speak for themselves at the hustlings, which would make their task much simpler, but seems forgotten. That ‘Game’ is all about fair distribution of political opportunities and punishment is also delivered as per laid out rules is forgotten in a hurry to the own peril of ‘leaders’.
So, the attempt to explore a new type of polarization is on. This might be an improvement over the caste based appeal or religious polarization of yesteryears, although reliance on this tool is yet to be seen as not ‘leaders’ seem to be ready as of yet. The prophets are already out with their prophecies on win-ability & alliances and this may also include a rather bold forecast about seats. These forecast seem rather based on the new economic gambit failing on the short term, which is most likely. And this is construed as a lack of plank or under-preparation on the older electoral planks & rhetoric which would send some parties and leaders scurrying for cover. It is therefore assumed that there are unlikely to be any bold questions to be faced as a matter of political convenience. That the old equations have almost been already tested in the ‘game’ seems to be forgotten in the hurry to resurrect old equations albeit under some new façade. We still do not have parties or leaders exploring the basics about ration distribution, jobs, basic infrastructure etc. Of course we have sundry attempts to sell some of the old talking points as well as some new ones like action on terror, but without any reference to issues of the people of the state. The parties in fray seem to have a lot of leader-speak especially on the economic issues or more particularly on Notebandi but there seems to be a complete lack on any economic agenda that has any potential to sell in the state with maximum unemployed and maximum land-less. The Skills program or the Manufacturing focus seems to have had little impact so far. While the plan for Agri-processing might have been of some help but the competitive politics almost always ensures that such units see huge risks which overwhelms the risk-takers appetite. Ruling class wants to sell itself once again but does the king have any clothes. Let’s see the game evolve further…..
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 13th December 2016
The search for post Demonetization theme for Political leaders to follow, now seems to be on. Especially so since some crucial elections are due. While leaders have just started off with the drive to offer balm to people standing in queues in the poll bound states. The ruling parties are ogling towards the MNREGA and other government schemes which can help subside the impact for those who may have been caught on the wrong foot especially so in the rural areas. It may be noted that even in urban areas, it the migrant labourers may have taken some blows and went back to hinterland to the rescue through MNREGA. The political tone setting in commercial news media depending upon its loyalties goes mostly on account of poor implementation alone rather than overall delivery to people through the exercise. While some on the other hand would swear by the sex-appeal of the demonetization drive with supposed impact on the rich and the corrupt. Then of course some in media would bring out the argument of lack of preparation for the exercise without even exploring the preparation made the government and its bureaucrats for distribution of Coal blocks, contracts or airwaves etc. Of course there have been some tragedies in this exercise and that is likely to remain a stickler in some of the areas provided parties decide to back some of the candidates through some positive action in electoral huslings, but looks like no one is thinking about it except for serving their own dish which is a mix of hyperbole and rhetoric. Instead of sheding crocodile tears, if the parties and/or leaders decide to let some of the people speak for themselves at the hustlings, which would make their task much simpler, but seems forgotten. That ‘Game’ is all about fair distribution of political opportunities and punishment is also delivered as per laid out rules is forgotten in a hurry to the own peril of ‘leaders’.
So, the attempt to explore a new type of polarization is on. This might be an improvement over the caste based appeal or religious polarization of yesteryears, although reliance on this tool is yet to be seen as not ‘leaders’ seem to be ready as of yet. The prophets are already out with their prophecies on win-ability & alliances and this may also include a rather bold forecast about seats. These forecast seem rather based on the new economic gambit failing on the short term, which is most likely. And this is construed as a lack of plank or under-preparation on the older electoral planks & rhetoric which would send some parties and leaders scurrying for cover. It is therefore assumed that there are unlikely to be any bold questions to be faced as a matter of political convenience. That the old equations have almost been already tested in the ‘game’ seems to be forgotten in the hurry to resurrect old equations albeit under some new façade. We still do not have parties or leaders exploring the basics about ration distribution, jobs, basic infrastructure etc. Of course we have sundry attempts to sell some of the old talking points as well as some new ones like action on terror, but without any reference to issues of the people of the state. The parties in fray seem to have a lot of leader-speak especially on the economic issues or more particularly on Notebandi but there seems to be a complete lack on any economic agenda that has any potential to sell in the state with maximum unemployed and maximum land-less. The Skills program or the Manufacturing focus seems to have had little impact so far. While the plan for Agri-processing might have been of some help but the competitive politics almost always ensures that such units see huge risks which overwhelms the risk-takers appetite. Ruling class wants to sell itself once again but does the king have any clothes. Let’s see the game evolve further…..