Home Elections

Arvind Kejriwal: Modi's Biggest Nightmare This Election Season

If the BJP wants to make a mark, it needs to shift from rhetoric to reality. People want the party to address real issues like inflation and unemployment. Otherwise, Arvind Kejriwal along with INDIA bloc may just steal the show.

By Neeraj Thakur
New Update
Arvind Kejriwal and PM Modi

Arvind Kejriwal (Left) and PM Narendra Modi (right) | Photo courtesy: Special arrangement

Listen to this article
0.75x 1x 1.5x
00:00 / 00:00

On Saturday, in a significant event marking his release, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal held his first press conference at 1 p.m after walking out of Tihar Jail on Friday, having secured an interim bail from the Supreme Court until June 1. During this critical juncture of the election season, many who closely follow politics on television anticipated widespread media coverage. Given the extensive coverage of Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah's rallies, it seemed reasonable to expect similar attention to Kejriwal's press conference. Surprisingly, many national media outlets chose to overlook this event. Some gave it partial coverage, while others opted to air commercials or shift focus to other BJP-related news. In contrast, numerous regional news channels, including several Malayalam outlets, committed to broadcasting the entire press conference

During an election season, the role of the media in shaping public opinion cannot be understated. When media outlets engage in selective reporting, obstructing the dissemination of key information, and then skew their analysis with propagandistic overtones, it raises serious questions about their integrity and objectivity.

It has become increasingly evident that the BJP's approach this election season has intensified, adopting tactics that stoke fears and exploit divisions. The party has aggressively sought votes by invoking the threat of Pakistan, engaging in communal rhetoric between Hindus and Muslims, and politicising religious symbols. Additionally, they have misrepresented the Congress party’s manifesto and cloaked their campaign in the guise of combating corruption. Regrettably, there appears to be a marked absence of discourse on substantive policies that would offer relief to the common man from escalating prices, address the urgent need for job creation or address real issues that affect the everyday lives of citizens.

Apart from fear mongering, the party has also been widely talking about anti-corruption in its election speeches of Modi and Shah, which has clearly not augured well with the masses for many reasons. It is perhaps time for the BJP to reevaluate its public discourse on anti-corruption. The electoral bond scheme, recently deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, starkly contradicts their proclaimed stance against corruption. This scheme allowed political parties to receive funds from anonymous donors, a practice that fundament

login-icon

The Probe: Investigative Journalism & In-Depth News Analysis

Dive into the world of The Probe, where investigative journalism meets in-depth news analysis. Explore exclusive stories, uncover hidden truths, and gain unparalleled insights into issues of public interest.