In his column It’s politics, stupid, A K Bhattacharya employs convincing logic to suggest that the timing of the demonetisation was guided by political considerations keeping the forthcoming assembly elections in mind. The results of recent by-polls have confirmed this in a small, but notable way. Modi also has the unique advantage of stirring people’s aspirations to good effect by bonding them with emotional content. There is none in the opposition to match the impact he creates by wiping tears in public or while addressing his party men.
A good emotional opposition leader could have punctured this image by picturing affectively (yes, affectively) the trauma of the poor, disabled and the old citizens waiting for long hours in queue to meet their day-today needs sometimes at the cost of their life while doing so. All that they are doing this is sitting on dharna, taking out a morcha and questioning his integrity. What may upturn Modi’s election plan is not the opposition solidarity but the likelihood that the hardships felt by his target population due to the inadequate supply of new currency in the banks might continue for days together. If this crosses the limit of tolerance, the public mood may change in the short term upsetting the outcome of assembly elections.
Y G Chouksey Pune
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201 · E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number
