Shyness in Politics-A Good Reason for Trepidation
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 2nd Jan. 2017
The cozy club politics is going helter-skelter. Some commentators would depict is as the rise of post-truth polity based on narrow semantics, though. Basically, political sub-groups within some of the largest political parties are a reality, which has never been admitted. These groups may exist as a cabal of politicians themselves as well as a mix of politicians with ‘intellectuals and concerned citizens along with businesses’, who would support with funding to prop up the cabal within the party as well as in public perception. Such political groups belonged to traditional old time political families including some princely families, some bureaucrats turned intellectual liberals, some journalists turned intellectual liberals, a few academics, some rustic popular netas who could rally the masses of the not so sophisticated, popular personalities in guise of concerned citizens amongst others. While the groups may have had their positive contribution which may be undeniable, however readiness (or the lack of it) to face ‘game’ questions is a concern. One good example in current context is reliance of only anecdotal evidence by almost all self-fashioned ‘liberals’ while those in power could have easily conjured some statistical evidence on some key issues, but data doesn’t seem to be a forte that they would want to adopt (since only soft opposition was hitherto needed to be displayed with ‘harsh words’ or some jocular proverbs to make points). The readiness to thrive basis ‘understanding’ or ‘deals’ with the other groups, has largely determined the ‘salability’ including continued ability to keep oneself/group high on the public radars for most occasions. The support team may have their own pay-off even if they themselves may not be an active participant in governmental politics but active in other areas of public life such as performing arts, sports or business.
The ‘game’ questions raise policy issues from the point of public, especially point of view or opinions which may have larger public interests or curiosity area and thus are difficult to avoid, although commercial news media would continue to do its best by either ignoring ‘social media’ or even ostracizing them altogether. However in politics such questions have their own use as they tilt impressions very fast and therefore of huge value especially for ground campaign, even if not in public view. The media to its credit has also always shown political leaders acknowledge the power of social media, highlighting the twitter-wars which may be hyped to develop perceptions but with little campaign impact. The ‘game’ questions tilt the scales rather easily, provided those raising them have the intent to face these as well (that may come back their way), and thus loved by those netas who want to build their mark, especially first timers who may have a some level of support or organization backing their quest. This is because it requires wide publicity for the questions as well as for the questioner to be establishing their reputation basis the questions to be clearly identifiable. They do call for some level of expertize though. The established netas would love such questions being hurled towards their rivals, provided their own campaign can run in shadows away from such questions. The focus of the commercial news media and the local netas is therefore often kept on issues which may not be ‘hard’ public questions/issues, but easy inferences can be drawn to make points about one’s ability or inability ‘to deliver’ upon the promise. A compliant commercial news media and a clutch of dumb supporters including the rally format of one side communications almost always supports, with some rudimentary management by ‘active party workers’. Then it for the commercial news media to hype up ‘the spectacle’ for their own viewers and keep their kitchen fires burning.
The ‘Game Question Politics’ disrupts this set up. First the ordinary ‘workers’ managing the show diligently till the onset of such questions, is no longer able to ‘perform’ either for himself or for public. The lack of experience to handle questions or questioners shows up besides the lack of ‘expertise’, even though not acknowledged by netas or the news media. Several smaller netas could be in need of an entirely new team and championship of a new set of ‘game issues’. Despite the challenges that have arisen for the political parties and netadom, they have not been on an expansionary mode to recruit new leaders or core group of supporters, who would be of help to cope up with the emerging challenges. Wherever such challenges arise, the response has been to go back to existing ‘workers’ or traditional support-base, which may have consistently failed to groom themselves up to scale up to these challenges. This shy-ness to expand the base supporters is a cause of current trepidation amongst the netas in almost all parties, but is seldom admitted or voiced. What may not have helped the matters is that people raising such ‘game questions’ are seen as ‘puny’ individuals unable to organize themselves and cause a political upset and therefore not a force to reckon. This is in spite of the fact that the traditional support bases of the parties may have been readying their own set of ‘game questions’ to be put forth to their own campaign leaders as well as to the ‘virodhi netas’. That the current polity has ‘no straight answers’ (for those in government at center or state as well as those in opposition) but they know that the ‘game question politics’ is here to stay is quite evident from their loudly speaking ‘silence’. The conduct of netas raising ‘game questions’ in run up to campaign resulting in big smashes as well as splits, is a point to ponder. This may be contrasted with the ‘silenced netas’ at some other places and parties as well as visible jump of some of the netas at the pinnacle of some parties/grouping.
What perhaps has not helped though for the polity to fully set in is perhaps too much focus (of the commercial news media) around senior netas and those ‘low level netas’ beating the ‘silenced netas’ or ‘jumping jack netas’ or ‘run-away netas’ hands down, not being reported adequately. What is not perhaps desired by the hi-level netas is focus shifting to some other netas and their political style with the commercial news media playing compliant. This is while nearly all senior netas have given up on their traditional plank (though their manifesto may be awaited) and harking upon ‘development’ bandwagon to canvass for the votes. It is also noted that no one is presenting report card although what may be depicted is a further set of promises in run up and on this count there is every likelihood of an upset un-envisaged by the netadom. This is while the core public concerns about jobs and service delivery by government hasn’t ebbed. However for the upset, again it would require some other ‘game’ entrant to ‘rise’ on the horizon. Not acknowledging the question is however an easy solution suited to the netas as well as for the commercial news media. Let’s see the ‘game’ evolve further…..
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 2nd Jan. 2017
The cozy club politics is going helter-skelter. Some commentators would depict is as the rise of post-truth polity based on narrow semantics, though. Basically, political sub-groups within some of the largest political parties are a reality, which has never been admitted. These groups may exist as a cabal of politicians themselves as well as a mix of politicians with ‘intellectuals and concerned citizens along with businesses’, who would support with funding to prop up the cabal within the party as well as in public perception. Such political groups belonged to traditional old time political families including some princely families, some bureaucrats turned intellectual liberals, some journalists turned intellectual liberals, a few academics, some rustic popular netas who could rally the masses of the not so sophisticated, popular personalities in guise of concerned citizens amongst others. While the groups may have had their positive contribution which may be undeniable, however readiness (or the lack of it) to face ‘game’ questions is a concern. One good example in current context is reliance of only anecdotal evidence by almost all self-fashioned ‘liberals’ while those in power could have easily conjured some statistical evidence on some key issues, but data doesn’t seem to be a forte that they would want to adopt (since only soft opposition was hitherto needed to be displayed with ‘harsh words’ or some jocular proverbs to make points). The readiness to thrive basis ‘understanding’ or ‘deals’ with the other groups, has largely determined the ‘salability’ including continued ability to keep oneself/group high on the public radars for most occasions. The support team may have their own pay-off even if they themselves may not be an active participant in governmental politics but active in other areas of public life such as performing arts, sports or business.
The ‘game’ questions raise policy issues from the point of public, especially point of view or opinions which may have larger public interests or curiosity area and thus are difficult to avoid, although commercial news media would continue to do its best by either ignoring ‘social media’ or even ostracizing them altogether. However in politics such questions have their own use as they tilt impressions very fast and therefore of huge value especially for ground campaign, even if not in public view. The media to its credit has also always shown political leaders acknowledge the power of social media, highlighting the twitter-wars which may be hyped to develop perceptions but with little campaign impact. The ‘game’ questions tilt the scales rather easily, provided those raising them have the intent to face these as well (that may come back their way), and thus loved by those netas who want to build their mark, especially first timers who may have a some level of support or organization backing their quest. This is because it requires wide publicity for the questions as well as for the questioner to be establishing their reputation basis the questions to be clearly identifiable. They do call for some level of expertize though. The established netas would love such questions being hurled towards their rivals, provided their own campaign can run in shadows away from such questions. The focus of the commercial news media and the local netas is therefore often kept on issues which may not be ‘hard’ public questions/issues, but easy inferences can be drawn to make points about one’s ability or inability ‘to deliver’ upon the promise. A compliant commercial news media and a clutch of dumb supporters including the rally format of one side communications almost always supports, with some rudimentary management by ‘active party workers’. Then it for the commercial news media to hype up ‘the spectacle’ for their own viewers and keep their kitchen fires burning.
The ‘Game Question Politics’ disrupts this set up. First the ordinary ‘workers’ managing the show diligently till the onset of such questions, is no longer able to ‘perform’ either for himself or for public. The lack of experience to handle questions or questioners shows up besides the lack of ‘expertise’, even though not acknowledged by netas or the news media. Several smaller netas could be in need of an entirely new team and championship of a new set of ‘game issues’. Despite the challenges that have arisen for the political parties and netadom, they have not been on an expansionary mode to recruit new leaders or core group of supporters, who would be of help to cope up with the emerging challenges. Wherever such challenges arise, the response has been to go back to existing ‘workers’ or traditional support-base, which may have consistently failed to groom themselves up to scale up to these challenges. This shy-ness to expand the base supporters is a cause of current trepidation amongst the netas in almost all parties, but is seldom admitted or voiced. What may not have helped the matters is that people raising such ‘game questions’ are seen as ‘puny’ individuals unable to organize themselves and cause a political upset and therefore not a force to reckon. This is in spite of the fact that the traditional support bases of the parties may have been readying their own set of ‘game questions’ to be put forth to their own campaign leaders as well as to the ‘virodhi netas’. That the current polity has ‘no straight answers’ (for those in government at center or state as well as those in opposition) but they know that the ‘game question politics’ is here to stay is quite evident from their loudly speaking ‘silence’. The conduct of netas raising ‘game questions’ in run up to campaign resulting in big smashes as well as splits, is a point to ponder. This may be contrasted with the ‘silenced netas’ at some other places and parties as well as visible jump of some of the netas at the pinnacle of some parties/grouping.
What perhaps has not helped though for the polity to fully set in is perhaps too much focus (of the commercial news media) around senior netas and those ‘low level netas’ beating the ‘silenced netas’ or ‘jumping jack netas’ or ‘run-away netas’ hands down, not being reported adequately. What is not perhaps desired by the hi-level netas is focus shifting to some other netas and their political style with the commercial news media playing compliant. This is while nearly all senior netas have given up on their traditional plank (though their manifesto may be awaited) and harking upon ‘development’ bandwagon to canvass for the votes. It is also noted that no one is presenting report card although what may be depicted is a further set of promises in run up and on this count there is every likelihood of an upset un-envisaged by the netadom. This is while the core public concerns about jobs and service delivery by government hasn’t ebbed. However for the upset, again it would require some other ‘game’ entrant to ‘rise’ on the horizon. Not acknowledging the question is however an easy solution suited to the netas as well as for the commercial news media. Let’s see the ‘game’ evolve further…..