8 things that dominated headlines in Elections 2014

The countdown to the big election results has begun. While the exit poll euphoria continues and the results are awaited with bated breath, the BJP has already begun celebrations. The BJP is reportedly stocking up thousands of laddoos.But irrespective of the results, there are many reasons that differentiated the 2014 elections from the previous elections. Most of the following reasons are firsts in the electoral history of India.

 

1) Highest voter turnout 

 

India set a new record for voter turnout at 66.38 percent this time.This is slightly higher compared to the previous high of 64.01% registered in the 1984-85 elections which saw Rajiv Gandhi coming to power as Prime Minister. The Election Commission deserves credit for its efforts to reach out to over 800 mn voters, especially youth and women.

 

2) Arvind Kejriwal and AAP

 

Arvind Kejriwal, the crusader turned politician is undoubtedly the harbinger of change in Indian politics. While many may argue that his core supporters have moved away from the party post the delhi govt debacle, Kejriwal and AAP deserve credit for bringing the youth of the country out of their state of apathy towards politics and inspiring people from all walks of life to actively participate in politics. Dynastic and elitist politics has plagued the country’s political system for years. Kejriwal and his party have challenged people and institutions in power and continue to question the status quo through their national electoral campaign.

 

3) The battle moves to  ... Social media 

 

This is the first time that political parties tried to woo India’s around 200 million internet users. Political parties, especially the BJP and AAP devised strategies to directly communicate with voters through social media, keep a tab on the opposition’s social media activities, bring out any negative information and magnify the party or its leader’s achievements and image. Congress, AAP and the BJP formed IT ‘cells’ that have handled their online activity. These teams were also responsible for keeping tabs on trolls and abusers. Social media became a platform where people freely expressed their political views and shared information during the electoral season. The medium was also used by supporters from all parties to launch vicious attacks on journalists, activists and political opponents with differing views.

 

4) Bullish Market sets new records

 

On May 13, the Sensex crossed the fastest 1,000 point gain ever and in the process crossed the 24,000 mark for the first time. The exit poll results which have predicted a win for Narendra Modi has taken the market to new highs.  If the NDA wins a clear majority, the stock markets are likely to continue a bull-run this week.

 

5) Brand NaMo

 

From NaMo chants to NaMo jokes, everything that was a part of a strategically driven advertising and publicity campaign has managed to make Narendra Modi a household name in the nation. The slogan ‘Abki Baar Modi Sarkaar’ which acquired cult status is a clear example of the success of Modi’s team in creating Brand NaMo. There are Modi kurtas, Modi ringtones, a Modi Android game and NaMo tea stalls in Bihar. Modi’s team made their brand visible like no one else did; positive publicity has been done through television, radio, internet, social media, voice calls giving promotional messages; and to add to all this, merchandise by third parties celebrating the cult of NaMo worked in their favour.

 

6) Aam aadmi disappointed

 

Voters were baffled as their names went missing from electoral lists and hence disappointed that they couldn't vote. This happened across many cities. In Mumbai and Pune, after thousands were left disenfranchised, the Election Commission apologized and called it a “massive operational mistake”.Despite the Election Commission’s elaborate security setup, violence disrupted the electoral process in some cities.In Kashmir,a bomb blast near a polling station injured a policeman and incidences of violence were reported amidst the voting boycott.Instances of violence were reported in West Bengal as well.

 

7) Whopping expenditure by political parties

 

The government has spent Rs 3426 crores on Lok Sabha polls.The EC has attributed this 131% jump in expenditure to inflation and measures taken to increase voting.Rs 30,000 crores have been spent by government, political parties and candidates in the nine-phased polls. Union Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh called for a “serious expenditure audit” on the amount of money spent by political parties and also called Modi’s spending “astronomical” and “obscene”.

 

8) Low Level politics (no pun intended)

 

The Election Commission seized liquor from various places during the electoral process. According to the data released by the Election Commission, 2 crore litres of liquor and 1.85 lakh kg of drugs have been seized this election season. Clearly the booze-for-votes practice is still prevalent. Around 2.5 – 3 lakh litres of liquor and drugs worth Rs 732 crores have been seized from the state of Punjab alone in the March-April period. Widows in the state who have lost their husbands during this period due to excessive alcohol and drugs abuse are reportedly campaigning to stop this practice. 

 

Usage of words such as ‘gadha’, ‘shehzada’ and ‘butcher’ brought the level of political barbs to new lows. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s comment, “Should rape cases be punished with hanging? They are boys, they make mistakes” also drew sharp criticism.