Jeetega Gujarat?

Today is polling day in parts of Gujarat. And so yesterday was a Gujarat day for all news channels. Among which Question Time Gujarat in NDTV was easily the best. Two most matured, articulate and worthy of their profession advocates, Mr.Arun Jaietly and Mr Kapil Sibal represented BJP and congress respectively. The show was compeered very well by Barka dutt and a handful of Gujarat political commentators, editors and Intellectuals were present as catalysts. After a long time I saw a very lively debate with equal opportunity to both sides and it was not prejudiced. It was a US type debate and very refreshing. I am not sure whether it will be useful for either of the party but atleast by the content, Jaitly was more convincing. It does not however mean that Kapil sibal performed inferior, but he was playing in a weak wicket and that showed. The Intellectuals also contributed very well by posing very good and right questions to both sides.And they got the best answers. Then there was one more program in NDTV, Battleground votes: Gujarat where three wise men Pranoy, sorabjeewala and Express editor participated. This unlike the other one sounded prejudiced and was more of a canvas for anti modi brigade. They as usual made it seem it was flowing from their clever experience and observations in Gujarat I am quite surprised how there was no opinion polls. When elections were held in Tamilnadu numerous opinion polls by channels and magazines proved as catalyst for the victory of DMK. May be there was some ban? But then except for some concocted version of people’s mind not revealed, the media in general were all propagating anti modi voices. Poor Modi, what an up hill task for him. Pitted against a weak leaderless congress may be his only consolation. But he has enough for under the belt bashing from insiders, ex insiders, press EC, courts, and human rights groups and abroad. If he wins it will be a chapter for all democrats all over to read and learn.

It is really appalling that development is never the main plank of any Indian elections. Saurastra and patels is what is discussed in all channels. And most make us believe all the votes in this region is in the pockets of keshubai. Most political commentators in India give massive discount for the intelligence of the voters. They use the opportunity to exhibit their intelligence and do little to improve our voting methods and practices, Bhupendra chube of CNN_IBN in a live chat in the web goes on bashing modi by telling there should be no place for fascist modi and expresses his wish well. He also prophets that Congress will win and Bharat solanki will be their CM, Something which solanki himself may not know. He bothers little to explain how he arrived at this conclusion and this approach is why I question banning of opinion polls. Such prejudiced commentators can do very little justice for an unbiased coverage of elections. The Gujarat debate conducted by the Rajdeep sardesai of course was well conducted but surely CNN_IBN was not at its usual best.
The Nine o clock in Timesnow is as usual a treat to watch. The crisp editing and coverage of almost all important news of the day and also interviewing all concerned, presenting both sides of the coin and also aptly using archives. Goswami is the king in interviews and he does it very well, again and again. He provokes, entices but allows the interviewed to present their case. The pre Election Day news at nine was with Rudi of BJP Jayanthi of congress and others.

And then in Night, Advani was announced as the PM’s candidate of BJP. Now obviously all channels tried to ponder why announce it just hours before election. Whatever it may be for, I hope it helps the equation for BJP in Gujarat. The Timesnow covered this well.
Well the results of Gujarat do not concern me but all media say it will impact a nation. So may be it will impact me but I hope it does not became a concern for all. And any bets the prejudiced media is going to give concocted exit polls after first phase hoping it would influence the second phase their way. I am sure there will be many who will try to write early obituaries for moditva. If opinions are banned then the exit in the middle should also be barred. Right?

I do not support either, but by what I see in Tamilnadu, Andhra and the nation as a whole, I feel development should be continuous and any change will slow it and may be derail it or change course. Gujaratis know better.
see part-II, Part-III