May 10, 1999
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FLIPSIDE Walking the Plank By Dilip Bobb Seldom in recorded history have so many owed so much misery to so few. As the BJP leadership has been telling the Election Commission: after May, the deluge. So now, the big question revolves around the possible dates for the Mother of All Elections, which everyone believed was J. Jayalalitha. However, M.S. Gill seems to have a different parent in mind. Whatever the cause, it's now time for all politicians to walk the plank. And hope that it sells in Purulia. All planks are tailored to the electoral moment. Here's how the various election planks stack up against the voter's mood. The BJP: Is hoping that the sympathy wave doesn't get washed away in the monsoon rain. Although there does seem to be a cloud of suspicion over its new role as chief meteorologist, predicting all manner of floods and cyclones as far ahead as September. Main plank revolves around a bus journey, a bomb blast, an economy on the rails, agricultural credit cards and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, not necessarily in that order. Basically, harping on the fact that voting the BJP back to power is insurance against surprise attacks by foreigners. HIPIP ( How It Plays in Purulia): Sympathy wavering. Claims of achievement somewhat dubious, especially when main propagandist is George Fernandes. Minorities not impressed with 13-month record and its poor choice of allies. Vajpayee's image is saving grace, but he is also seen as naive for having been so easily led down the Poes Garden path. The Congress: Electoral theme song is: "We didn't start the fire". Will try to sell the line that it had nothing to do with bringing down the government and only stepped in in the interest of world peace, national integration, secularism, winning the World Cup, patriotism, the elimination of corruption, stability, the welfare of women and minorities, and will think of some more as election time nears. Will keep Sonia as secret weapon and Priyanka as fallback, since there are no other crowdpullers except Arjun Singh's press briefings where there is comic relief and light refreshments. HIPIP: After Sonia's appearances and pronouncements on national television, difficult to sell the line that she is still a secret weapon, or that the Congress wasn't trying to sneak into South Block through the rear entrance. Voting public may have been willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, but her poor maths and poorer choice of advisers could spell CIAo to her political ambitions. The Samajwadi Party: Having acted as the BJP's most dependable ally, Mulayam Singh is now warning of an international conspiracy involving several countries, but not an individual, even though she is a foreigner, and there is a foreign hand in the Congress symbol, even though he will not name anyone, but foreign forces are out to ensure a government of their choice, even though he is not against anyone born in a certain country which is shaped like a boot. HIPIP: Most likely to get the boot. |
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