Poll Results: End of the Surveyors and Rise of Reason....
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 16th May 2014
The journos powered by Cola-sense are having a field day analyzing the results thrown out by the electorate in India. Who Wins, Who looses; and what does it imply??? One of the most easy thing to forget in the frenzy of the newsroom war powered by cola-money i.e. money from advertisers like cola cos., toothpaste cos., soap cos., etc. is that ‘reason’ support argument for or against vote rather than media surveys. This is best reflected by survey results and discussions thereupon; has been rejected altogether by electorate which is amply reflected in verdict. This is so because of the failure of all ‘best and worst case scenario’s of all surveyors have failed to predict the results, although some journo will come out with his analysis to justify the survey and surveyors. I am sure this fact that surveys have failed will not be discussed or highlighted by journos who are busy projecting their own omniscience so that they can project their halo to the new powers that be…
The Aam Admi i.e. Real Mango rather than those from Mango Man Party; predicts that this result should usher the age of reason. The rationale thinking and argument about the benefits to Aam Admi should take precedence in political discourse rather than superficial discussions about subjects that the ad companies readily sponsor. Such superficial debates in media have abound and were largely one sided with the old rulers scoring over even over things like rising power tariffs without scrutiny of power companies to take an example. The media maintained that the argument was way forward even in the face of not so supportive electoral results in the state. The result in the state was defeat for the then rulers. Media also managed to out-argue survival of the government in the face of court indictment on 2G by out arguing the then opposition. Now, again in the national context, a pro-business lobby is arguing to maintain stranglehold through the maze of rules; and raising argument to government for their cause, amply supported by elements who dominate media. The electoral results will make sense to Aam admi only if Common sense triumphs over this Cola-sense.
The huge number of votes gathered by a newbie party in the face of established players should be interpreted clearly as vote for ‘reason’ by the masses. The newbie as well as the old hats should take a cue from results to raise arguments and reasons for supportive macro and micro policies and rules that benefit the Aam Admi or be open for more such results. The victory of the old opposition is inconsequential since it is now possible to mobilize votes through ‘reasons’, is the lesson that should be taken away. Yes, that ground level structural presence is also required and contact at local level including credibility of local party unit is of equal importance. This so because smaller parties with strong structure on ground failed due to absence of reason while those which probably had reason lost because of lack of structural presence on ground. The ‘old opposition’ was better structured and had advantage over ‘old rulers’ in terms of reason.
The results are more a negative vote for the ruling party and towards a stable government rather than a positive vote for specific party. The change should be seen as a change in the process as to how voters now take decisions, rather than a suo moto change from one party to another. The implication being that even the new rulers may be facing the same or even stronger change wave in the face of non-performance by next elections and this has important bearing on policy formulation of the rulers.
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 16th May 2014
The journos powered by Cola-sense are having a field day analyzing the results thrown out by the electorate in India. Who Wins, Who looses; and what does it imply??? One of the most easy thing to forget in the frenzy of the newsroom war powered by cola-money i.e. money from advertisers like cola cos., toothpaste cos., soap cos., etc. is that ‘reason’ support argument for or against vote rather than media surveys. This is best reflected by survey results and discussions thereupon; has been rejected altogether by electorate which is amply reflected in verdict. This is so because of the failure of all ‘best and worst case scenario’s of all surveyors have failed to predict the results, although some journo will come out with his analysis to justify the survey and surveyors. I am sure this fact that surveys have failed will not be discussed or highlighted by journos who are busy projecting their own omniscience so that they can project their halo to the new powers that be…
The Aam Admi i.e. Real Mango rather than those from Mango Man Party; predicts that this result should usher the age of reason. The rationale thinking and argument about the benefits to Aam Admi should take precedence in political discourse rather than superficial discussions about subjects that the ad companies readily sponsor. Such superficial debates in media have abound and were largely one sided with the old rulers scoring over even over things like rising power tariffs without scrutiny of power companies to take an example. The media maintained that the argument was way forward even in the face of not so supportive electoral results in the state. The result in the state was defeat for the then rulers. Media also managed to out-argue survival of the government in the face of court indictment on 2G by out arguing the then opposition. Now, again in the national context, a pro-business lobby is arguing to maintain stranglehold through the maze of rules; and raising argument to government for their cause, amply supported by elements who dominate media. The electoral results will make sense to Aam admi only if Common sense triumphs over this Cola-sense.
The huge number of votes gathered by a newbie party in the face of established players should be interpreted clearly as vote for ‘reason’ by the masses. The newbie as well as the old hats should take a cue from results to raise arguments and reasons for supportive macro and micro policies and rules that benefit the Aam Admi or be open for more such results. The victory of the old opposition is inconsequential since it is now possible to mobilize votes through ‘reasons’, is the lesson that should be taken away. Yes, that ground level structural presence is also required and contact at local level including credibility of local party unit is of equal importance. This so because smaller parties with strong structure on ground failed due to absence of reason while those which probably had reason lost because of lack of structural presence on ground. The ‘old opposition’ was better structured and had advantage over ‘old rulers’ in terms of reason.
The results are more a negative vote for the ruling party and towards a stable government rather than a positive vote for specific party. The change should be seen as a change in the process as to how voters now take decisions, rather than a suo moto change from one party to another. The implication being that even the new rulers may be facing the same or even stronger change wave in the face of non-performance by next elections and this has important bearing on policy formulation of the rulers.