The campaign for the 2019 general elections has entered the home stretch. Amid the frenetic movement of the major players at the hustings the gist of what they are saying now only endorses the broad approaches adopted earlier, but with new developments bringing about changes in thrust. The Prime Minister and BJP’s preeminent speaker, Narendra Modi, began the round of big rallies on Thursday stressing nationalism and a robust response to foreign-sponsored terror. Regardless of whether the anti-satellite missile launch was timed with the election season in mind, Modi was certain to make political capital out of the technological advancement in the ability to shoot down satellites in space. In any case, it was his nationalist government that had cleared the project for India’s competent scientists and a bit of chest thumping on that count should be granted. The Election Commission has found no fault with the manner in which the eventful hit in space was made public though this raises the larger question over whether the constitutional conductor of polls is always inclined to favour the ruling forces.
It is to be seen whether BJP’s hypernationalism and commitment to fight terror are sufficient to overcome in the public mind the shortcomings in the economy and jobs scenario. On the other hand, the PM’s principal adversary, Rahul Gandhi from the Congress, has noticeably changed tack to talk positively on economics, job creation and tending to industry and startups as a way of projecting a positive thrust in his plans for political power. Taking a back seat is the “chowkidar is a chor” refrain that seemed to lose currency from a repetitive attack on the Rafale aircraft deal. The switch from constantly expatiating on the ill-effects of demonetisation to taking a step forward by stressing on the revolutionary “Nyay” basic income scheme, which may have found resonance with large sections of the population especially since experts are positing that giving away close to Rs 3.6 lakh crores a year is doable, may have somewhat changed the poll prospects scenario. Whether a combined opposition has resolved to accept Rahul as a PM candidate or not, it is clear at the ground level that the contest is thought to be between the two.
As the intensity of the feelings projected at the hustings is expected to rise some more in the two weeks leading to the first phase of polls, the quality of the political discourse has fallen. The opposition may have valid objections to the Prime Minister’s play of words on “Sarab” (mirage) or “Sharab” (liquor) but then they have also been guilty of having competed for quite some time with the ruling party forces in bringing down the levels of verbal exchanges. As elections near, we may only see more such crude wordplay. No amount of admonishments could possibly change the plumbing of depths in this continuous war of words. What is even more condemnable is the amount of misogyny that second-rung netas are displaying in the public arena.
