Page 43 - Tehelka Issue 8&9

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• optimism in the air last 2017. Their main job is to highlight
Politics of ‘Kar-Natak’ Siddaramaiah rules out the what they call the “misgovernance”
of the Siddaramaiah government and
possibility of any negative
“negativity towards Hindus.”
unruffles political bigwigs impact of anti-incumbency news assuming serious dimensions,
In the wake of dissemination of fake
campaigning. a leading English Daily has recently
The BJP’s attempts warned that Internet fakery is now tak-
Both Congress and the BJP are confident of winning the elections; nevertheless, if at making corrup- ing an even more vicious avatar called
Hard Congress succeeds in wresting power for the second time consecutively, it will explode tion as its main plank “Deepfakes”, which uses Artificial Intel-
seem to have run into
ligence to make anyone say or do just
LIne 33-year old myth and for that we will have to wait till May 15 a rough weather be- about anything on video. Undoubtedly,
cause Yeddyurappa as social media is credited to have made
Anil Singh ome May 12, Karnataka goes to BJP’s brand of nationalism, which the the CM face weakens the world a more democratic place;
poll for 224-Assembly seats for local BJP leadership is finding it difficult this plank as he was, nonetheless, it is also said to produce
which a whopping number of to effectively puncture this narrative. in people’s perception, fakery that plays on naive minds, and
The columnist is candidates have filed nomi- While making the assembly polls a battle infamously immersed polarises society more ominously than
Executive Editor of C nations. Bulk of the seats are between regionalism and BJP’s style of in corruption and his the rampaging mobs during riots.
News24 news being contested by the ruling Congress, nationalism, Siddaramaiah government governance found
channel. The views and the opposition BJP as well as Janata has also come out with welfare schemes wanting on different Looking ahead
here expressed are the Dal (Secular) or JD-S. Besides, Independ- like food for the poor — Indira Canteens. fronts. Besides, the BJP The tone and tenor of election cam-
author’s own ents and candidates from regional parties In the wake of the BJP’s announcement high command’s deci- paigns, especially during the state
are also contesting in large numbers. The of the campaign schedule of PM Modi sion to refuse a ticket assembly elections, is assuming such
intervening period is witnessing a hectic and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, to Yeddyurappa’s dimensions that belittle the impor-
flurry of political activity in all major and Siddaramaiah brooked no delay in riling son reinforces what tance of India’s claim to be the largest
minor contending parties. Undoubt- the BJP by calling its star campaigners as feel that a Kannada speaker is consid- Siddaramaiah has successful democracy in the world.
edly, experts don’t see any wave either in “north Indian imports” and their presence ered inferior to someone who articu- been underlining that the north Indian Political slugfest, mud-slugging, us-
favour of against the key political par- in Karnataka an admission of the fact lates in Hindi. Recently, this author leaders call the shots in BJP, reducing age of unparliamentary language and
ties — ruling Congress, rival BJP and the that the BJP has no leaders in the state. was in Karnataka and chanced to have Yeddyurappa to a figurehead. character assassination on individual
JD (S) — nevertheless, the electioneering One critic has dubbed this as return of one-to-one talk with Siddaramaiah in basis and on the basis of caste have
is witnessing exchange of barbs or jibes the north vs south rhetoric to Karnataka. Nagnahally district of Mysore, wherein Theatrical antics become features frequently deployed
via social media, allegations and counter- Bristled at its leaders being dubbed as the latter expressed full confidence of Theatrical antics in the form of jibes, during the election campaigns, as wit-
allegations in election rallies and the last- outsiders to Karnataka, the BJP hit back by again forming the next government. barbs, allegations through social media nessed in UP assembly elections and in
minute efforts to woo the voters. accusing Siddaramaiah of stooping low The chief minister who was conduct- outlets like Twitter and Facebook have Gujarat assembly elections and a part
Congress enjoys the advantage of and pointed to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul ing door-to-door campaign ruled out come to roost in Karnataka. Now with of this scenario can be seen in Karna-
strong state leadership in the persona of Gandhi, also non-Kannadigas like Modi the possibility of any negative impact the Congress as well as the BJP being taka as well. This is a dangerous trend
chief minister Siddaramaiah, who has and Adityanath. of anti-incumbency factor because desperate to win Karnataka, both have that needs to be curbed at the earliest
been the last in the party in Karnataka, Being aware of the BJP’s strategy of his government had dome more good taken to social media in a big way, by making suitable amendments in the
from candidate selection to poll strategy playing up a nationalistic brand of politics, things on account of which the people making political use of technology, and election law. Karnataka has the distinc-
and campaigning, unlike in the BJP which Siddaramaiah has brought to the table were satisfied with his government. even the JD (S) is not lagging behind. tion of being a State where no party
is being managed viaremote-control from his brand of identity politics — Kanna- Electoral rivalries between the since 1985 came to power for a second
New Delhi. Some critics opine that Sid- diga — which is touted as Siddaramaiah’s BJP’s hitch BJP and Congress no more remain consecutive term and no CM has re-
daramaiah’s political googlies — picking way of ensuring even the voter wears Majority of political observers agree confined to just rallies and road shows, turned after a full five-year term since
Experts don’t see up the Kannada language or opposition to his Kannadiga identity on his sleeve. The that under the current scenario, the BJP but increasingly about tweet wars, Fa- Devaraj Urs in 1978. Undoubtedly, both
Hindi found resonance with the Kanna-
is finding the going tough in Karnataka. cebook likes and WhatsApp forwards.
growing resentment over the BJP-ruled
Congress and the BJP are confident of
any wave either in digas or painting the Centre as a step- Centre’s efforts of pushing Kannada to They also opine that the BJP’s chief There has been frequent exchange winning the elections; nevertheless, if
favour of against mother favouring North Indian states or play the second fiddle to Hindi even in ministerial face Yeddyurappa and of barbs on Twitter between present Congress succeeds in wresting power
his supporters are finding it difficult
incumbent Siddaramaiah and the BJP’s for the second time consecutively, it
the most recent one of granting minority
Karnataka, especially in exams conducted
the key parties religious status to the powerful Lingayat by departments of the Government of to counter Siddaramaiah’s narra- chief ministerial face BS Yeddyurappa. will explode 33-year old myth and for
— Congress, BJP community – haveproved instrumental India found its articulation in incidents tive based on Kannada pride and the The Congress social media unit, com- that we will have to wait till May 15.
prising about 50 volunteers, reportedly
manner in which he has managed
in eclipsing the local leadership of the BJP. of defacing signage at Metro rail stations
and the JD (S) — His bold stand on Cauvery water-sharing in Bengaluru and spraying paint over the to paint the Central government as works on graphics, tweets and Face- Dr. Anil Singh is Executive Editor of
nevertheless, the also falls in this category. names of the stations written in Hindi. the villain. The state BJP unit, finding book posts to counter “fake news” put News24, the author was recently in Kar-
itself on a weaker wicket, is pegging
Some experts opine that this linguist pride
Siddaramaiah’s emphasis on regional
out by BJP handles. The BJP’s social me-
nataka & views expressed are
bid to woo voters issues has earned some mild criticism has got intertwined with the Kannadiga hopes on PM Modi, its pinch hitter, to dia units, comprising 5,000 volunteers author’s own
rescue the team, like he did in Gujarat
from certain quarters, but concurrently
identity and Siddaramaiah is tapping into
spread across the state, are working to
is on it is also seen by some as bulwark against the feeling among proud Kannadigas who assembly elections at the fag-end of spread the BJP messaging since August letters@tehelka.com
tehelka / 15 may 2018 42 www.tehelka.com tehelka / 15 may 2018 43 www.tehelka.com
42-43 Karnataka Column Anil Singh.indd 2-3 02/05/18 5:40 PM