I have somewhat faint memory of Uttar Pradesh elections in late fifties. My father
was posted in Lucknow.
I was about 7-8 years then. The election was fun to all children of our
locality. 2-3 election processions were passing our locality daily at the peak
time of election. I don't remember who were candidates. I also don't remember
names of political parties fighting election. But I remember Congress party fully well because its procession used to have a pair of
well decorated & well fed Bulls then being symbol of Congress
Party. C.B. Gupta must have been a powerful leader of Congress party those days
though he became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1960. I remember his name
due to funny reason. How it was funny? Whenever opposition parties use to take
election processions they would chant a slogan "गली-गली में शोर है, सी .बी. गुप्ता चोर है"
(There is noise all over, CB Gupta is thief). The slogan was very catchy &
soon it became darling of all children of locality. Whenever we see any vehicle
coming we start shouting "गली-गली में शोर है, सी .बी. गुप्ता चोर है".
This might be first instance of personal attack on any leader because those
days politic was not that much dirty. People use to avoid personal attacks
& shun themselves in labeling baseless personal allegations. Result: C.B. Gupta won the election.
After this election, I don't
have much remembrance of elections up to 1971 general elections for 5th Lok Sabha. General Elections 1971 were
observed by Indian public with great interest. Those were the days when Indira Gandhi broke away from
famous Congress Party’s syndicate known as "Famous Four". In July-1969 she nationalized Banks & also she
won Bangladesh war with great precision to much to joy of
all Indian public irrespective of class & cread. Cutting across political
line, Atal Bihari Bajpai called her "Durga". She was darling to Indian public but a bitter foe to her
rivals. During this election many personal allegations were leveled
against her including a slogan "Indira Hatao, Desh Bachao"(Remove
Indira & Save country). Rivals called her by names. Called her as "वो औरत" (That Woman) & what not. She gave a simple slogan "Galibi Hatao"(Remove poverty). She
play victim before public & countered
her rivals with a simple appeal "वो कहते है इंदिरा हटाओ, मैं कहती हूँ गरीबी हटाओ"(They
say remove Indira, I say remove poverty). She was careful enough not to go
personal against her rivals. Result: She returned Congress Party with 352
seats with marked improvement from her party's poor show of 283 in
previous elections in 1969.
Then came famous general elections of 1977 after Ms. Gandhi lifted emergency. During emergency all most
all opposition leaders were imprisoned & tortured. Even during this
election, many of them were labeled as CIA agents including many more
personal nature attacks/allegations were labeled on them. Ms. Gandhi forgot
that it was personal attacks on her which helped her to won 1971 elections with
thumping majority but she let her overzealous party men to adopt
this tactic. Result: Congress Party was rooted out & got
only 153 seats by loosing about 199 seats. She lost personally too which was
unthinkable.
During Janata Raj, the ruling
clan went after Indira Gandhi & her family. They labeled different kind of
personal allegations against Indira Gandhi & Sanjay Gandhi which resulted
in their loss in next general elections. Indira came back with thump.
Result: Indira Gandhi won the election with huge majority getting 351 seats.
There are many instances of
personal attacks during elections and results remain the same. I will give 2-3
more instances to prove my point.
Let us remember 2004 elections.
Though NDA was riding high on good performance of its rule but seeing over
active Sonia Gandhi they went personal against her calling her "विदेशी महिला" & suggested something fishing in her foreign connection resulting
shunting NDA defeat. Perhaps even Sonia Gandhi never dreamed winning that
general election. Result: Sonia Gandhi won the
election.
In 2009 general elections L.K. Advani went
personal against Manmohan Singh calling him as weakest Prime Minister India
ever had. Nearly whole NDA again went personal against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi & Manmohan Singh & paid price by loosing elections again. Result: Congress
Party won the elections.
In 2007 Gujrat Elections, Sonia
Gandhi erred in calling Narendra Modi as "मौत का सौदागर".
Her other colleagues, personal & through paid media, cornered him on 2002
riots & paid price dearly. Modi again won handsomely. In 2012 Gujrat
elections, Sonia Gandhi was careful enough not to repeat the same mistake but
she did not for forbid her colleagues in repeating the same mistake.
Other senior members of UPA tried to corner Modi in 2002 riots again
personally & through paid media. Some called him even Monkey. Modi stuck to
his line of "Development" and again won election with huge margin
much to chagrin to UPA leadership. Result: On
both occasions Modi won the elections.
What is moral of this essay? "Personal attacks
boomeranged on those who indulged such practice during elections."
Reason: Elections
are not won by votes of the hardcore supporters but by the votes of general
public. Though Indian Public tends shows sympathies with person
against whom personal allegations are labeled but this is not sole reason for
voting in his favor. They know that those, who are indulging in
personal attacks against opponents, don’t have any road map to remove general
public problems, social disparity, social injustice etc. In fact they don't
have any solutions to the problems public faces on daily basis. Moreover they
know these talks would vain away once elections are over. They also know that
those, who talk about solutions to general public problems, would do something
for them once they won elections. So maximum votes goes to the person who
normally does not indulge in personal allegations & against whom personal
allegations are labeled but stick to his line of action.
General election 2014 is very
near. Lots of personal & general exposes would come or coming to light.
This trend is showing its tail specially on Social Media. Main media is also
starting it by & by. Most personal allegations may be wild in nature
mingling personal images of the candidates. I am sure lots of mudslinging shall
be done during this bloody general election. Some would
bring Secular issues, some would try to galvanize Hindus in
name of Mandir, some will polarise Muslims in name of violations of
minority rights. Mostly all would go for personal nature things. I don't know
how far my analysis is correct but I believe that the Party, who don't go
personal against contesting candidates/parties & but stick to its road map,
will win this election. The Tiwaris, Togarias, Owaisis etc may prove biggest spoilers for their parties chances in coming elections.
My advice to all political
parties & their candidates is that (1) Don’t
bring personal issues/allegations (2) Bring
real issues before the public (3) Tell them what would you do to
minimize their suffering. Them let public decide to whom they vote. I am
sure fellow countrymen & political parties that those who do it will be
winner.
Jai Hind
