Table of Contents
THE CONTEXT: The fomenting of divisive politics will not help the Indian nation. With polling over in 379 of the 543 constituencies after the fourth phase in the general election, the parties’ electoral campaigns have reached the endpoint. Deep into the campaign calendar, though, the disconnect between the concerns of the electorate and campaign rhetoric especially that of BJP lynchpin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains, unfortunately, intact.
ISSUES:
- Disconnect Between Campaign Rhetoric and Voter Concerns: Voters have emphasized job creation, inflation, and development as primary issues. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign rhetoric has not focused on these concerns but on attacking the Opposition with various claims and accusations.
- Use of Divisive and Vituperative Campaign Tactics: Modi and some of his colleagues have taken vituperation as a campaigning device to new levels, using hate speech and dog whistles to rev up support from Hindutva adherents. This includes accusations against the Opposition for their silence on specific issues and their allies’ use of abusive language.
- Identity Politics and Caste Issues: Other parties, including Congress and its public face, such as Rahul Gandhi, have also engaged in identity politics, focusing on caste-related issues. This has been a significant part of the campaign rhetoric, even if not to the same extent as Modi’s tactics.
- North-South Political and Economic Dynamics: There is a notable tension between northern and southern political dynamics, especially with Modi’s rhetoric against southern parties. This is problematic given the greater economic integration between the North and South, with many northern working-class citizens migrating to the South for employment.
- Induction of Controversial Figures: The BJP’s induction of Manish Kashyap, a YouTube content creator jailed for spreading false news about attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu, highlights the use of divisive politics. Such actions could exacerbate regional tensions and do not contribute to national unity.
THE WAY FORWARD:
- Enhanced Electoral Regulations on Campaign Rhetoric: Implement stricter regulations and oversight by the Election Commission to ensure campaign rhetoric focuses on policy issues and constructive debate rather than personal attacks, misinformation, or divisive messages. This could include guidelines for the content of speeches and advertisements, with penalties for violations.
- Promotion of Issue-Based Campaigning: Political parties and candidates should be encouraged to adopt issue-based campaigning, which focuses on presenting and debating policies and solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges, such as job creation, inflation, and development. This can be facilitated through public debates, policy whitepapers, and voter education campaigns.
- Strengthening of Independent Media and Fact-Checking: Support the development of independent media outlets and fact-checking organizations that can provide unbiased coverage of electoral campaigns and verify politicians’ claims. This would help reduce the spread of misinformation and ensure the electorate is well-informed about the issues at stake.
- Encouraging Civic Engagement and Voter Education: Launch nationwide civic engagement and voter education programs to inform the electorate about the importance of focusing on policy issues rather than identity politics. These programs can also educate voters on critically evaluating the information they receive through social media and other channels.
- Fostering Dialogue and Reconciliation: Organize forums for dialogue and reconciliation between different political parties, communities, and regions to address and mitigate the divisions within the country. These forums can serve as platforms for discussing and finding common ground on socio-economic issues, federalism, and social justice, promoting national unity and cooperation.
THE CONCLUSION:
Mr. Modi should focus on the differences in emphasis on how to tackle socio-economic issues between the BJP and the INDIA bloc. But instead, his use of half-truths as a weapon to rile the Hindi heartland against southern parties is problematic at a time when there is greater north-south economic integration, with working-class citizens from the north migrating to the south for employment. Such actions could foment divisive politics that does not help the Indian nation.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION:
Q. The Indian party system is passing through a transition phase full of contradictions and paradoxes.” Discuss. 2016
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. How can political campaigns be realigned to address the genuine issues the electorate faces, such as job creation, inflation, and development? Critically analyze the role of media in shaping electoral narratives and suggest measures to ensure a more issue-focused political discourse.
SOURCE:
Spread the Word