Elections are round the corner, and everyone's geared up with opinions of their own. While some favor the modern and young Rahul Gandhi, others feel that Narendra Modi is a better option, while a few others feel that idealistic and down-to-earth Arvind Kejriwal is the man of the hour. However, in this article I shall not justify my political affiliation or criticize any candidate; I’m merely going to discuss the pros and cons of the campaign tactics employed by the above mentioned candidates.
Let’s start with Rahul Gandhi. In the wake of the upcoming elections, the new president of the Congress has become a household name, be it for his pro-youth views or his emphasis on the need for modernization. However, if he wishes to occupy the PM’s seat there are two obstacles which he must overcome.
Firstly, the fact that he comes from the Gandhi family; which at times may have worked to his advantage, but in this case, is a disadvantage, as every person who bears a grudge against or dislikes the UPA/Congress shall automatically dislike/criticize him, which in turn will deny him the opportunity of being judged by his merits.
Secondly, some of his speeches tend to be a little vague and instead of outlining a plan of action, he focuses on the problems being faced by the people, creating the impression that he lacks the clarity and decisiveness required to lead a country. However, he has some positive aspects too, one being his pro-youth mentality which greatly appeals to young India, the second being his emphasis on modernization and development, which earns him many a vote from the educated and well-off sections of society. Therefore
I believe that if Mr Rahul Gandhi outlines a fixed plan of action and spoke about solutions rather than problems, he could definitely give the BJP & AAP a run for their money.
Firstly, the fact that he comes from the Gandhi family; which at times may have worked to his advantage, but in this case, is a disadvantage, as every person who bears a grudge against or dislikes the UPA/Congress shall automatically dislike/criticize him, which in turn will deny him the opportunity of being judged by his merits.
Secondly, some of his speeches tend to be a little vague and instead of outlining a plan of action, he focuses on the problems being faced by the people, creating the impression that he lacks the clarity and decisiveness required to lead a country. However, he has some positive aspects too, one being his pro-youth mentality which greatly appeals to young India, the second being his emphasis on modernization and development, which earns him many a vote from the educated and well-off sections of society. Therefore
I believe that if Mr Rahul Gandhi outlines a fixed plan of action and spoke about solutions rather than problems, he could definitely give the BJP & AAP a run for their money.
Next in line for the PM’s chair is BJP candidate Mr Narendra Modi, who has encompassed India by a NaMo storm. He is no longer just a politician, but more of a brand, the NaMo brand. Be it songs, videos, advertisements or speeches, this man is doing everything under the sun to market himself and increase the following of the NaMo camp. Narendra Modi is perhaps one of the strongest contenders for the post of PM, as of today.
Known for his ability to increase growth rate (as he has already 'proven' with Gujarat) and to understand the common man's problems, Modi has the ability to connect with people from all classes of society, and that perhaps is his greatest strength. However, it would be false to say that there are no negatives to the NaMo campaign.
His severe criticism of his opponents and extreme aggression leads people to believe that in case of an alliance, he would find it difficult to keep his government together. The question mark hanging over his involvement in the Gujarat riots casts doubts on his integrity and secularity as a leader. Lastly, people feel that the NaMo campaign is a one-man army, as very few leaders apart from Modi enjoy the popularity which is enjoyed by him, or possess his foresight and planning.
Known for his ability to increase growth rate (as he has already 'proven' with Gujarat) and to understand the common man's problems, Modi has the ability to connect with people from all classes of society, and that perhaps is his greatest strength. However, it would be false to say that there are no negatives to the NaMo campaign.
His severe criticism of his opponents and extreme aggression leads people to believe that in case of an alliance, he would find it difficult to keep his government together. The question mark hanging over his involvement in the Gujarat riots casts doubts on his integrity and secularity as a leader. Lastly, people feel that the NaMo campaign is a one-man army, as very few leaders apart from Modi enjoy the popularity which is enjoyed by him, or possess his foresight and planning.
The latest entrant in the race for PM is Mr Arvind Kejriwal, who has single-handedly taken the country by storm. Be it the Lokpal Bill or his stand against taxation, this man has certainly risen eyebrows all over the country. His Aam Aadmi Party has won the appreciation of many for heeding to the cries of the common man and reducing financial burden on them (which he proved while he was CM of Delhi). Also, his strategy of portraying himself as a common man makes people feel that he is their true representative and shall be able to fulfill their demands.
However, his decision to resign as Chief Minister of Delhi after just 49 days has shaken people’s faith in him, and has led people to question his stability as a leader. Various comments made by him, such as calling the United Nations a corrupt body has cast doubts on his diplomacy and ability to lead a country as big as India. Lastly, even though I’m sure that Mr.Kejriwal’s notions are extremely genuine, the fact remains that as a politician he is extremely inexperienced and his desire to hold the session of Vidhan Sabha on the streets shows that he has scant respect for the political system. All in all, Mr.Kejriwal and his ideals are admirable, but ideals alone are not enough to be a politician, especially a PM, and one definitely needs to throw some 'rajneeti' in too.
Hope I've given you guys some food for thought. Till then; sayonara, and Happy Voting!
-SUBIN MITRA
However, his decision to resign as Chief Minister of Delhi after just 49 days has shaken people’s faith in him, and has led people to question his stability as a leader. Various comments made by him, such as calling the United Nations a corrupt body has cast doubts on his diplomacy and ability to lead a country as big as India. Lastly, even though I’m sure that Mr.Kejriwal’s notions are extremely genuine, the fact remains that as a politician he is extremely inexperienced and his desire to hold the session of Vidhan Sabha on the streets shows that he has scant respect for the political system. All in all, Mr.Kejriwal and his ideals are admirable, but ideals alone are not enough to be a politician, especially a PM, and one definitely needs to throw some 'rajneeti' in too.
Hope I've given you guys some food for thought. Till then; sayonara, and Happy Voting!
-SUBIN MITRA