Modi, Media, and Money: Why the interplay of these three M's is dangerous for Indian democracy

by Guest Mon Nov 11, 2013 7:20 am

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/modi-media-and-money

by Guest Mon Nov 11, 2013 7:28 am

That largely explains the BJP predilections of the group’s TV arm, Times Now. This news channel’s latest poll survey—conducted by C-Voter—of the BJP’s poll prospects following Modi’s anointment as the party’s PM candidate is a case in point. The survey gives Modi the thumbs up. The conclusions are identical to what C-Voter had predicted in an earlier survey for the India Today Group before Modi’s elevation, where it had forecast a ‘doubling of BJP seats’ if he were made the candidate. It is hard to understand why C-Voter keeps getting high-profile polster projects despite its dismal track record. Each time, it has projected inflated figures for the NDA/BJP. In 2009, it had predicted 183-195 seats for the NDA. It got only 159. Five years earlier, in 2004, it had projected 270-282 seats for the NDA. It managed only 181.

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/modi-media-and-money

by Guest Mon Nov 11, 2013 7:29 am

This pseudo bipolarity, a fallout of what BJP leader Arun Jaitley terms a ‘presidential style’ election campaign, is dangerous for democracy. It is a way of batting for both the national parties that resent the rise of regional parties that eat into their vote share. This bipolarity, which has willy-nilly seeped into our media discourse as well, leads to major distortions. While Modi’s meeting with TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu hit ‘national’ headlines, the 11-party meet in Delhi against communalism on 30 October, seen by many as a step towards a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative, was virtually blacked out by TV networks.

It also means that wherever the Modi-versus-Gandhi drama cannot be played out, you simply forget about it. Readers could be pardoned if they did not know that Assembly polls are also scheduled in Mizoram next month.

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Modi, Media, and Money: Why the interplay of these three M's is dangerous for Indian democracy

Modi, Media, and Money: Why the interplay of these three M's is dangerous for Indian democracy

Re: Modi, Media, and Money: Why the interplay of these three M's is dangerous for Indian democracy

Re: Modi, Media, and Money: Why the interplay of these three M's is dangerous for Indian democracy

Re: Modi, Media, and Money: Why the interplay of these three M's is dangerous for Indian democracy