India Needs Strong Opposition

India Needs Strong Opposition

by with No Comment Politics

India has strong government in the center and we need needs equally strong opposition. The desire of strong opposition is just not my views or wish of millions of the politically active Indian but also the National General Secretary of BJP Ram Madhav also believe the same. Even ruling party demands a strong opposition.

Unfortunately, there is no strong opposition at center. There is no single party or an alliance which can counter the moves of the ruling party as a cohesive unit with an articulated narrative. Ram Madhav, also argues that for any Mahagathbandhan to succeed or to be taken seriously, need to have a coherent narrative. The coherent narrative is missing as each party of the so-called opposition has their own hidden agenda; they don’t have any defined plan or ideology; and the opposition don’t have a defined strong leader.

It is important to understand that strong opposition doesn’t mean only numbers, a strong opposition party should act like a watchdog. They should be in position to command the respect of people and the party in power. They should be in position to argument well with positive in disagreement.

I believe that it is not necessary that congress should emerge as the largest and strongest party of opposition. One of the strong regional parties with strong leadership and national ambition can also emerge as the party of opposition at center. Though there is opportunity for a regional party like Samajwadi Party, or Aam Admi Party to emerge as the option to be the party of opposition, but it also requires leadership to have focus to achieve the position. As of now, in absence of any such alternative, congress becomes the defacto option of opposition party.

The age-old party Congress needs to start from scratch. It has to be a new beginning; this beginning can be independent of the Gandhis. The new age leaders of Congress would need a new approach, new leadership, new ideology, and contemporary agenda. Most of the political analyst believe that if congress need to emerge as the party of opposition, it needs to rework on the leadership, ideology, and reposition the brand congress from scratch.

It is important for congress to reinvent the party as it is fast losing the political ground, and voters confidence. Its ironical that congress as a party has been reduced to the politics of vote bank. The decline of the congress is witnessed from the results of recent assembly elections, and most of the local body elections results has shown that the Congress has been virtually decimated by the BJP. The decline of congress is apparent form the result of the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly election where, congress managed to win seven seats, which is even lower than BJP ally Apna Dal’s which won nine seats. As we are witnessing the decline of congress and many other regional parties across India, we are also witnessing rise in the vote share of BJP in all the states where it has no presence, or limited presence. The decline in the importance of regional parties, and loosing grip of congress across India has created a scenario where we are not witnessing constructive opposition. It will not be wrong to say that we are back to the era of spineless opposition. The only difference is this time the opposition is congress and other regional parties.

In my views, the gradual decimation of congress from Indian politics is bad news for India and the idea of Indian democracy. Congress need to focus on the constructive opposition and argue around issues which are non-religious, beyond caste and regionalism, issues that talks of development, corruption, women security, terrorism, intolerance, riots, etc. I believe that this is the time for the opposition to unite and restructure. It is time to re-work on the ideology, and reposition themselves.

Also Published at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/india-needs-strong-opposition-braj-mohan-chaturvedi-/

Who Moved My Leaders

Who Moved My Leaders

by with No Comment Politics

Congress has been a party of charismatic leaders. Leaders who enjoyed ‘Demi God’ status. The charisma of these national or regional leaders was unparallel. The history of Indian National Congress is testimony to larger than life leaders like Mahatama Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Indira Gandhi and others who in their times enjoyed the Demi God status.

One can argue that those were the golden days of past and they have not experienced the charisma and following of those ‘Demi Gods’. Yes, most of us may have not witnessed the mass following and charismatic leadership qualities of the tallest leaders of Congress but probably most of us have witnessed or are witnessing the rise and popularity of leaders like Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, PV Narasimha Rao, and many others contemporary leaders.

It will not be wrong to say that leaders and their following has been the strength of Congress. These leaders who enjoyed larger than life image and mass following have not only built the party – Indian National Congress but in last few decades have been instrumental in formation of many regional parties. We have 

witnessed the emergence of a few strong regional parties like TMC, NCP, YSRCP and others. The founders of these party were once strong Congress leaders. The leaders like Mamta Banarjee, Sharad Pawar, Jagan Mohan Reddy who once were the leaders of Congress but now they have their own regional parties. The reality of these leaders remains unchanged! They at core are still Congressi.

Congress unlike BJP which is karyakarta based party always believed in building strong leadership. Congress has always been a top-heavy party and BJP with the support of RSS is a karykarta based party. It will not be wrong to say that both national parties have their own unique strengths and that is the core of the respective parties.

Coming back to Congress, it will only be correct to say that Congress has been a party of great leaders who were or are known for the mass connect. On the one hand, BJP in absence of huge mass leaders who have attained ‘Demi God’ status have started to piggyback on few of the Demi Gods from Congress. BJP is trying to hijack the credentials of leaders like Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, and others for their branding. We all will agree that BJP in recent past have extensively used the Demi God status of Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Patel for their benefits. One may argue that national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Patel are beyond boundaries of party politics but the fact remains unchanged that they were leaders of Indian National Congress. On the other hand, there is sustained propaganda to malign the brand image of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi and others.

This is a critical case of destroying the core of Congress – ‘Asset as Leadership’. The congress needs a swift action to protect it’s ‘Asset as Leadership’ before it’s too late.

Also published at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/who-moved-my-leaders-braj-mohan-chaturvedi-/

Is MahaGathbandhan Answer to Growing Modi Power?

Is MahaGathbandhan Answer to Growing Modi Power?

by with No Comment Politics

Political alliance without ideological oneness will not take opposition anywhere. History is testimony to the opportunistic alliance and current political scenario is no different. Post-independence, India has witnessed three big civil-political movements. These movements were mostly result of strong voice against the incumbent government.

In past, we have witnessed three major political parties emerging out of movement against the incumbent government – Janta Party, Janta Dal and the Aam Admi Party. We all know what happened to Janta Party, Janta Dal and to the ideology for which the leaders were fighting. We also know that the politicians born out of 1977 and 1989 movements have looted our nation in best of their capacities. We are also witnessing the same trend with Aam Admi Party.

It will not be wrong to say that Politics is game of mathematical equation. In my views the Political-Mathematical equation is also function emotional connect. 

The first Voice of civil-political revolution was championed by Jayaprakash Narayan, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, Jivatram Kripalani, Biju Patnaik and Morarji Desai, and other political leaders who were imprisoned during emergency. These political leaders joined hands to form Janta Party. This movement (movement of 1977 – the voice against the incumbent government) had given birth to the current political leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh, Nitish Kumar, Ram Vilas Paswan, and many others. I am sure the soul of Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayprakash Narayan, and others must be ashamed of some of their star followers. They must be ashamed of the way the star followers have changed their ideology in name of politics, and are indulged in mass corruptions, and looting of national wealth. 

In 1989, the second voice of change was championed by V P Singh. He united regional parties such as the Telugu Desam Party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the Asom Gana Parishad under the umbrella of Janta Dal. it will not be wrong to say that the movement witnessed its decline much before the civil-political movement gained prominence. This movement was not as strong a movement as the Janta Party movement. In 1989, there was not an ideological fight. The alliance was primarily alliance of convenience, an alliance against the incumbent government, an alliance based on anti-congress ideology.

One can try and define it in many other ways but in my view the reality is that the VP Singh movement was as a strong movement against the incumbent government. It was not built on the framework of strong ideology. It was an opportunistic alliance against the incumbent government and hence it disintegrated much before the movement started. We witnessed the sign of disintegration soon after its integration and coming to power. The formidable alliance in the form of Janata Dal disintegrated into various largely regional parties – Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (Secular), Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Indian National Lok Dal, Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya), Biju Janata Dal, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Lok Janshakti Party, Samata Party, Socialist Janata (Democratic) Party. Today they keep coming up and try and integrate as a ‘Janta Parivar’

In 2011-2012 we witnessed another civil-political movement in the form of anti-corruption movement in India – India Against Corruption. The prime goal of the movement was the introduction of the Jan Lokpal bill. The leaders of India Against Corruption Movement has also betrayed the aspirations of common man as it happened in other two movements.

The members of India Against Corruption founded a political party – Aam Admi Party which was structured on certain ideology, clarity and cleanliness in political conduct.  The party and the founder today has murdered ideology and the essence of the movement called Aam Admi. The movement which could have been the game changer is struggling for its survival. The movement which once united India beyond the cast, creed and religion is struggling to find its identity. The movement with which every Indian, once associated with is struggling to keep its member united.

It is observed that the political party which is born out of the movement also has political ambitions like any other corrupt political parties. Aam Admi Party, like most of the other political parties born out of such movement, lacks ideology, clarity and cleanliness in political conduct.

Also Published at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mahagathbandhan-answer-growing-modi-power-braj-mohan-chaturvedi-/

Promoting Brand Arvind Kejriwal Through Social Media

Promoting Brand Arvind Kejriwal Through Social Media

by with No Comment BusinessPolitics

Arvind Kejriwal is a quick learner, he initially copied the BJP’s game of social media and politics and taught them how it should be done. Arvind Kejriwal and AAP used all possible social media channels and just not Facebook and Twitter. AAP also used Quora for answering questions, Mango App for broadcasting speeches and messages and YouTube channel like TVF.

Arvind Kejriwal also managed to create an impression of a brand which shares every possible detail with its audience. He chose to use social media to communicate with his audience. The website of Aam Aadmi Party clearly highlights details of every funding they receive, doesn’t matter how small the amount is. This level of transparency and honesty helped AAP in winning the trust of people. AAP with its image of honest and transparent party managed to attract huge followers with a mere funding of INR 20 crores. These followers were just not following various Facebook and twitter accounts but were active and engaged. It will not be wrong to say that they were active digital volunteers for the party.

Arvind Kejriwal was successful in transitioning the followers of Anna’s movement to AAP supporters. This transition helped Arvind Kejriwal in developing a strong brand and huge political following. A small investment on the social media helped AAP and Arvind kejriwal win huge engaged followers base on Facebook and Twitter. This was also possible because of the correct communication strategy used by team AAP and Arvind kejriwal. 

It is very important for any successful personal brand to understand that they need to communicate with their audience in the language of the audience, at the medium of audiences’ choice. If it’s not managed well the whole communication plan will be of no use. Arvind Kejriwal, from the very beginning clearly understood the pain points of the masses and in his every communication he touched the pain point effectively. The success of Arvind Kejriwal’s communication strategy can be seen in the social media engagement score. In general, the success on social media is measured by the number of followers or likes, but Arvind Kejriwal clearly proved that people engagement is actually the true measure of success.

The good thing that happened for the Arvind Kejriwal’s story is building of a brand around the story of ‘Power of Common Man’. As common man started trusting and associating with the leader they genuinely followed him and started engaging with him on social media platforms. The followers or likes were not bought by running promotional campaigns. These followers or likes were genuine advocates of brand Arvind Kejriwal.  

Arvnd Kejriwal and AAP took the engagement to the next level for the voters of Delhi. They launched a page called Delhi Dialogue for the voters of the Delhi. The voters of Delhi could share their views on governance in Delhi, facilities they want, issues they face, solution they seek, etc. The major views from the voters of Delhi, were taken into consideration while writing the AAP’s election manifesto. The voters of Delhi loved the Manifesto as they saw their views were captured in it.  This was yet another classic success of engaging voters on social media and making them feel they are part of decision making.

Arvind Kejriwal’s popularity and positive image nosedived after he joined hands with congress to form his first government, and walked out of the government in 49 days. He was criticised by established political parties and was shamed by calling politics of ‘shoot and scoot’, ‘hit and run’, ‘name and shame’. Arvind Kejriwal’s guerrilla tactics have shaken the political class when he decided to renew his campaign by offering a sincere apology to people through his Facebook and Twitter pages. The apologies note was widely shared and retweeted. This apology note helped Arvind and AAP come back in the race. The script – ‘Power of Common Man’ worked once again. The voters were shown the human and honest side of the politician, which they had not expected from any political leader. This social experiment on social media worked well for Arvind Kejriwal proving that social media and politics go hand in hand.

Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP openly declared war against the other parties on social media. They used Twitter hashtags as weapons. The classic example is the #mufflerman hashtag which was created by opposition to mock Arvind was used effectively by the social media team of AAP to put pro-AAP tweets and turned into a weapon which trended for over 14 days.

AAP kept a close watch on the voter sentiments through social media & other means & continuously modified their campaign tactics and strategy thereby running a very cost effective campaign against well-funded campaigns of the BJP.

The other major social media communication success was sentiment analysis for studying thousands of Twitter and Facebook accounts of AAP followers, BJP followers and Neutrals to politics. This exercise helped Arvind Kejriwal keep the tone of messaging right. It also helped them in modifying the communication as and when needed.

The social media sentiment analysis helped them understand the groundswell and develop positive and pro-party messaging. The message also worked well as they were not mocking messaging or hate politics messaging. The communication was loved by people because voters were getting what they wanted.

Arvind Kejriwal, the front man of AAP, made it clear in every communication that if they find their team members indulging in corruption they would straight away cancel his/her election ticket. And, such incidents did happen when people reported to AAP authorities that some of their candidates are corrupt, and in the response, AAP cancelled their assembly tickets

Also Published at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/promoting-brand-arvind-kejriwal-through-social-media-chaturvedi-/