The metamorphosis from Murlifesto to Modifesto apparently takes a while. In the process, the BJP, the frontrunner in this election, may not be able to release its manifesto - originally drafted by Murli Manohar Joshi and now being extensively rewritten by Editor Narendra Modi - before the elections actually kick off on 7 April. A news report today says that the Election Commission has told the BJP it cant release its manifesto on Monday, especially to a television audience, since the elections would have begun. However, print is okay. So if the BJP plans to release its Modifesto on Monday, it will have to do without the TV crews. To be sure, the ban makes little sense since the manifesto can always be webcast and transmitted to the electorate through social media. The ban suits also the BJP fine since, by default or by design, its manifesto has become the talking point in the run up to the first phase of the general election. The party cannot but be relishing this attention. Even if the TV channels cant attend the unveiling, who can stop them from discussing it? As the saying goes, if you want someone to read something, the best thing to do is ban it - and this would be okay with the BJP. But some issues are worth discussing - manifesto or no manifesto. For example: Do manifestos matter? Do they make a difference to the outcome? Are the promises made in manifestoes worth the paper they are printed on? OR MODI is itself a MANIFESTO i,e if come to power will make the country tarnish with blood like GUJRAT riot
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 05:37:30 +0000