Will ad agency Dentsu turn Rahul Gandhi into an ‘aam aadmi’?

The Aam Aadmi Party's resounding success in Delhi has confirmed one thing - elections can indeed be won by a strong, innovative public outreach programme. AAP got literally everything in their election paraphernalia right - from the Gandhi topi and the wacky jhadu symbol to the intensive door-to-door campaigns and 71 manifestos for one city.

However, what capped the party's poll blitzkrieg was convenor Arvind Kejirwal's carefully practised 'aam aadmi' rhetoric - something that was easy to believe, easy to relate to and didn't ring as hollow as the other 'I'm-one-of-you' declarations made  by other seasoned politicians.

Rahul Gandhi. PTI

Essentially, Kejriwal's success was as much a public relations triumph as it was one of clever politicking. The 'pro common man' pitch has been a favourite with politicians in India down decades. However, given how generously it has been used and misused in our political milieu, it is also easily identified with the empty pre-poll theatrics of our political leaders. Interestingly, the other big players in the poll ring at present have been trying to resist being labelled the privileged 'other' in the political discourse of the country which traditionally divides India into two distinct entities - the political elite and the common man. While three time chief minister of Gujarat and now BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi finds it necessary to relentlessly harp on his humble beginning as a tea vendor's son, blue- blooded political elite Rahul Gandhi tries to position himself as a classic outsider like one of us -- fed up with the government, red tapism and nepotism in the political system. However, neither Modi, nor Rahul seems to have made much of an impression with their 'common man' cries.

But the bigger players are not willing to give up yet. While Narendra Modi had reportedly hired Bangalore-based IT entrepreneurs Rajesh Jain and BG Mahesh to propel his social media campaign and oil his lines of communication with the public, now Rahul Gandhi has reportedly sought the assistance of Japanese advertising and communication firm Dentsu to give his campaign a fillip before the polls. According to a report on The Hindustan Times, Dentsu will be leading a campaign to consolidate Gandhi's image as a young, dynamic leader who'll empower the common man. Another communications firm, Burson-Marsteller, has been roped in to take on Modi and AAP's social media avalanche and make Rahul a force to reckon with in social media. The HT report states:

"A team of select professionals is working on the project and Rahul Gandhi is closely involved with the creation of the short films and print ads based on him."

However, one has to keep in mind here that a sophisticated publicity campaign, built with the same precision with which product launches are designed, doesn't essentially help dilute the assumptions the voting population makes about the political class. In fact, a corporate approach to the polls in India would only help widen the breach between the voters and the political class in the country. A campaign that  decisively looks like an elaborate advertisement of achievements will only help sediment the stereotypes - most of them unflattering - that the general voting population nurtures about political leaders.

Getting down to the basics, how does one publicise the achievements of Rahul Gandhi - an MP, who has never held a portfolio in any government in India and is important in the political milieu of our country because of his descent. In fact, by centering Congress's poll campaign on Gandhi, the party will only end up reinforcing the body of criticism against it-- one that comprises allegations of dynastic politics, nepotism, high handedness and elitism.

Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party took to social media with a vengeance but scrupulously refrained from advertising the 'achievements' of its leaders. Let alone achievements, they did not even mention the credentials of their leader - some of who were, academically and professionally, worth flaunting. Because the party knew that an election can't be won by appealing to the intellectual whims and eye for aesthetics of a certain urbane section of the society. Their voters were ones who queued up at a community tap to fill water, their voters were ones who were likely to default on steep electricity bills. These voters would neither be enchanted by the fact that Kejriwal is an IIT graduate, nor would they have been taken in by the Powerpoint presentations on the city's electricity consumption. Hence, Kejriwal's 'bijli paani' pitch clicked with then. Incidentally, a lot of the same voters, and many more with even lesser patience for AVs, are who Congress is looking at. It is not too difficult to imagine that short films, made in a visual language that is both unfamiliar and unappealing to large sections of voters, isn't going to get them the votes!

 

Ashok Chavan writes to CM slamming Adarsh inquiry report

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has written to Prithviraj Chavan and the state Chief Secretary, claiming that the Adarsh inquiry Commission report does not do him justice and is against the principles of natural justice.

Sources close to Ashok Chavan said that in the letter, he has objected to the Commission reneging on its assurance to hear his side of the story.

"The report is bad and great injustice has been done to me. Before indicting me, the Commission did not hear my contention. This, despite it being specifically brought to its notice that if it was passing strictures against me, then as per section 8 of the Commissions Of Inquiry Act, I should have been heard," the sources quoted Ashok Chavan as saying in the letter to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary JS Saharia.

Ashok Chavan in happier times: Reuters

"The concerned were aware that as per the Act, if the reputation of a person is likely to be prejudicially affected by an inquiry, the commission shall give him a reasonable opportunity of being heard and produce evidence in his defence," the sources said.

"The government will take note of the letter. It has also received representations from a section of bureaucrats indicted by the inquiry Commission," a Mantralaya official said.

In its report, the Commission observed that while Ashok Chavan cannot be said to have favoured or obliged the Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society by allowing civilians to become members, his approval of non-deduction of 15 per cent recreational ground while calculating FSI cannot be treated as an innocent act.

"We are not concerned with the legality or otherwise of the said decision. It may be legal and justifiable...However, this decision when followed by the grant of membership and allotment of flats to his close relatives becomes indicative of quid pro quo," the Commission said in its report.

Sources close to Ashok Chavan said, "There is no connection between him and the then state government's decision to reduce the width of the proposed 60.97-metre Captain Prakash Pethe Marg near the Adarsh Society. It was entirely an urban development department related matter and there was no role of Ashok Chavan as the then Revenue minister."

The Maharashtra government had, on December 20, rejected the Commission's report on the Adarsh scam, tabled in the State Legislative Assembly.

However, after Rahul Gandhi's intervention the government this month decided to partially implement the panel's recommendations, which the Opposition has alleged, favours politicians while putting the onus only on bureaucrats.

The report of the two-member Commission headed by retired High Court judge JA Patil indicted several politicians including four former Chief Ministers- Ashok Chavan, late Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde and Shivajirao Nilangekar Patil- for "blatant violations" of statutory provisions.

PTI

Will PR firm Dentsu turn Rahul Gandhi into an ‘aam aadmi’?

The Aam Aadmi Party's resounding success in Delhi has confirmed one thing - elections can indeed be won by a strong, innovative public outreach programme. AAP got literally everything in their election paraphernalia right - from the Gandhi topi and the wacky jhadu symbol to the intensive door-to-door campaigns and 71 manifestos for one city.

However, what capped the party's poll blitzkrieg was convenor Arvind Kejirwal's carefully practised 'aam aadmi' rhetoric - something that was easy to believe, easy to relate to and didn't ring as hollow as the other 'I'm-one-of-you' declarations made  by other seasoned politicians.

Rahul Gandhi. PTI

Essentially, Kejriwal's success was as much a public relations triumph as it was one of clever politicking. The 'pro common man' pitch has been a favourite with politicians in India down decades. However, given how generously it has been used and misused in our political milieu, it is also easily identified with the empty pre-poll theatrics of our political leaders. Interestingly, the other big players in the poll ring at present have been trying to resist being labelled the privileged 'other' in the political discourse of the country which traditionally divides India into two distinct entities - the political elite and the common man. While three time chief minister of Gujarat and now BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi finds it necessary to relentlessly harp on his humble beginning as a tea vendor's son, blue- blooded political elite Rahul Gandhi tries to position himself as a classic outsider like one of us -- fed up with the government, red tapism and nepotism in the political system. However, neither Modi, nor Rahul seems to have made much of an impression with their 'common man' cries.

But the bigger players are not willing to give up yet. While Narendra Modi had reportedly hired Bangalore-based IT entrepreneurs Rajesh Jain and BG Mahesh to propel his social media campaign and oil his lines of communication with the public, now Rahul Gandhi has reportedly sought the assistance of Japanese advertising and communication firm Dentsu to give his campaign a fillip before the polls. According to a report on The Hindustan Times, Dentsu will be leading a campaign to consolidate Gandhi's image as a young, dynamic leader who'll empower the common man. Another communications firm, Burson-Marsteller, has been roped in to take on Modi and AAP's social media avalanche and make Rahul a force to reckon with in social media. The HT report states:

"A team of select professionals is working on the project and Rahul Gandhi is closely involved with the creation of the short films and print ads based on him."

However, one has to keep in mind here that a sophisticated publicity campaign, built with the same precision with which product launches are designed, doesn't essentially help dilute the assumptions the voting population makes about the political class. In fact, a corporate approach to the polls in India would only help widen the breach between the voters and the political class in the country. A campaign that  decisively looks like an elaborate advertisement of achievements will only help sediment the stereotypes - most of them unflattering - that the general voting population nurtures about political leaders.

Getting down to the basics, how does one publicise the achievements of Rahul Gandhi - an MP, who has never held a portfolio in any government in India and is important in the political milieu of our country because of his descent. In fact, by centering Congress's poll campaign on Gandhi, the party will only end up reinforcing the body of criticism against it-- one that comprises allegations of dynastic politics, nepotism, high handedness and elitism.

Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party took to social media with a vengeance but scrupulously refrained from advertising the 'achievements' of its leaders. Let alone achievements, they did not even mention the credentials of their leader - some of who were, academically and professionally, worth flaunting. Because the party knew that an election can't be won by appealing to the intellectual whims and eye for aesthetics of a certain urbane section of the society. Their voters were ones who queued up at a community tap to fill water, their voters were ones who were likely to default on steep electricity bills. These voters would neither be enchanted by the fact that Kejriwal is an IIT graduate, nor would they have been taken in by the Powerpoint presentations on the city's electricity consumption. Hence, Kejriwal's 'bijli paani' pitch clicked with then. Incidentally, a lot of the same voters, and many more with even lesser patience for AVs, are who Congress is looking at. It is not too difficult to imagine that short films, made in a visual language that is both unfamiliar and unappealing to large sections of voters, isn't going to get them the votes!

 

Will ad giant Dentsu turn Rahul Gandhi into an ‘aam aadmi’?

The Aam Aadmi Party's resounding success in Delhi has confirmed one thing - elections can indeed be won by a strong, innovative public outreach programme. AAP got literally everything in their election paraphernalia right - from the Gandhi topi and the wacky jhadu symbol to the intensive door-to-door campaigns and 71 manifestos for one city.

However, what capped the party's poll blitzkrieg was convenor Arvind Kejirwal's carefully practised 'aam aadmi' rhetoric - something that was easy to believe, easy to relate to and didn't ring as hollow as the other 'I'm-one-of-you' declarations made  by other seasoned politicians.

Rahul Gandhi. PTI

Essentially, Kejriwal's success was as much a public relations triumph as it was one of clever politicking. The 'pro common man' pitch has been a favourite with politicians in India down decades. However, given how generously it has been used and misused in our political milieu, it is also easily identified with the empty pre-poll theatrics of our political leaders. Interestingly, the other big players in the poll ring at present have been trying to resist being labelled the privileged 'other' in the political discourse of the country which traditionally divides India into two distinct entities - the political elite and the common man. While three time chief minister of Gujarat and now BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi finds it necessary to relentlessly harp on his humble beginning as a tea vendor's son, blue- blooded political elite Rahul Gandhi tries to position himself as a classic outsider like one of us -- fed up with the government, red tapism and nepotism in the political system. However, neither Modi, nor Rahul seems to have made much of an impression with their 'common man' cries.

But the bigger players are not willing to give up yet. While Narendra Modi had reportedly hired Bangalore-based IT entrepreneurs Rajesh Jain and BG Mahesh to propel his social media campaign and oil his lines of communication with the public, now Rahul Gandhi has reportedly sought the assistance of Japanese advertising and communication giant Dentsu to give his campaign a fillip before the polls. According to a report on The Hindustan Times, Dentsu will be leading a campaign to consolidate Gandhi's image as a young, dynamic leader who'll empower the common man. Another communications firm, Burson-Marsteller, has been roped in to take on Modi and AAP's social media avalanche and make Rahul a force to reckon with in social media. The HT report states:

"A team of select professionals is working on the project and Rahul Gandhi is closely involved with the creation of the short films and print ads based on him."

However, one has to keep in mind here that a sophisticated publicity campaign, built with the same precision with which product launches are designed, doesn't essentially help dilute the assumptions the voting population makes about the political class. In fact, a corporate approach to the polls in India would only help widen the breach between the voters and the political class in the country. A campaign that  decisively looks like an elaborate advertisement of achievements will only help sediment the stereotypes - most of them unflattering - that the general voting population nurtures about political leaders.

Getting down to the basics, how does one publicise the achievements of Rahul Gandhi - an MP, who has never held a portfolio in any government in India and is important in the political milieu of our country because of his descent. In fact, by centering Congress's poll campaign on Gandhi, the party will only end up reinforcing the body of criticism against it-- one that comprises allegations of dynastic politics, nepotism, high handedness and elitism.

Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party took to social media with a vengeance but scrupulously refrained from advertising the 'achievements' of its leaders. Let alone achievements, they did not even mention the credentials of their leader - some of who were, academically and professionally, worth flaunting. Because the party knew that an election can't be won by appealing to the intellectual whims and eye for aesthetics of a certain urbane section of the society. Their voters were ones who queued up at a community tap to fill water, their voters were ones who were likely to default on steep electricity bills. These voters would neither be enchanted by the fact that Kejriwal is an IIT graduate, nor would they have been taken in by the Powerpoint presentations on the city's electricity consumption. Hence, Kejriwal's 'bijli paani' pitch clicked with then. Incidentally, a lot of the same voters, and many more with even lesser patience for AVs, are who Congress is looking at. It is not too difficult to imagine that short films, made in a visual language that is both unfamiliar and unappealing to large sections of voters, isn't going to get them the votes!

 

Kashmir issue: The AAP should muzzle Prashant Bhushan

We're used to the double-speak of the Congress and the BJP, where a party functionary spouts something controversial and at times even incendiary. When there is a public outcry, the party is quick to close ranks and dismiss the statement – by someone from their own flock – as a 'personal view'.

Digvijaya Singh has been espousing his 'personal views' on subjects ranging from the ridiculous to the ridiculous. Take this one from as early as September 2001, when Singh wanted astrology to be introduced in universities.

Opinions on grave national issues can't be dismissed as 'personal opinions': PTI image

"The Congress today made it clear that it was opposed to the introduction of astrology as a discipline by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Talking to reporters, the AICC spokesperson, Mr. Jaipal Reddy, said it was for eminent scientists to decide the status of astrology as a science. The party was also opposed to "patronisation of astrology by the UGC,'' he added. Referring to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijaya Singh's statement favouring introduction of astrology at the university level as an elementary subject, Mr. Reddy said it was Mr. Singh's "personal view"

More recently, Nitin Gadkari has been vociferous about his opinion that income tax, service tax and sales tax should all be done away with. Of course, there was a rider that this was a personal view.

Such views broadcast by politicians like Singh and Gadkari are perhaps balloons sent up by the parties concerned to gauge public sentiment on issues, unmindful of the problems the views could create. In the two instances given above, there is no great danger of societal unrest, so it was easy for the respective political bodies to dismiss them as 'political views'.

What is disturbing is that the most dangerous or potentially inflammatory 'personal views' aired recently come from the AAP. More specifically, they come from Prashant Bhushan. The most dangerous, certainly, is Bhushan's view that there should be a referendum on the Kashmir issue.

As there was swift outrage, the AAP backed off. "We don't agree with Prashant Bhushan. It's his personal view. Deployment of the Army within the country should be decided on the basis of internal security threat. There is no question of a referendum. But sentiments of locals should be respected," Kejriwal said.

Earlier, Bhushan had commented on nuclear energy in general and the Kudankulam plant in particular. "Aam Aadmi Party leader Prasanth Bhusan on Sunday said the party always supported the cause of people's movement against nuclear energy at Kudankulam and would always be with the people.

Addressing members of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) at Idinthakarai near the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Bhushan assured his party's support to the ongoing agitation against KNPP," reported IBNlive.

It is perhaps wishful thinking to expect the Congress and the BJP to be responsible and mindful of what they say and consider the impact of public pronouncements. But it would be tragic if the AAP does the same, and refuses to consider the fact that there are reactions to statements made by senior party functionaries.

Statements can lead to social unrest, to lack of confidence in the economy and markets, to inflation, to the slowing down on investments, to a fall in the dollar, and so on. The media – and the public – have learned to discount statements by Congress and BJP functionaries.

Time will tell whether the opinions of Bhushan can be discounted. Till we know whether they can, we can get used to a time of more and more discomfort, even if the AAP rejects every such statement as a personal view.

Will ad giant Dentsu succeed in turning Rahul Gandhi into an ‘aam aadmi’?

The Aam Aadmi Party's resounding success in Delhi has confirmed one thing - elections can indeed be won by a strong, innovative public outreach programme. AAP got literally everything in their election paraphernalia right - from the Gandhi topi and the wacky jhadu symbol to the intensive door-to-door campaigns and 71 manifestos for one city.

However, what capped the party's poll blitzkrieg was convenor Arvind Kejirwal's carefully practised 'aam aadmi' rhetoric - something that was easy to believe, easy to relate to and didn't ring as hollow as the other 'I'm-one-of-you' declarations made  by other seasoned politicians.

Rahul Gandhi. PTI

Essentially, Kejriwal's success was as much a public relations triumph as it was one of clever politicking. The 'pro common man' pitch has been a favourite with politicians in India down decades. However, given how generously it has been used and misused in our political milieu, it is also easily identified with the empty pre-poll theatrics of our political leaders. Interestingly, the other big players in the poll ring at present have been trying to resist being labelled the privileged 'other' in the political discourse of the country which traditionally divides India into two distinct entities - the political elite and the common man. While three time chief minister of Gujarat and now BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi finds it necessary to relentlessly harp on his humble beginning as a tea vendor's son, blue- blooded political elite Rahul Gandhi tries to position himself as a classic outsider like one of us -- fed up with the government, red tapism and nepotism in the political system. However, neither Modi, nor Rahul seems to have made much of an impression with their 'common man' cries.

But the bigger players are not willing to give up yet. While Narendra Modi had reportedly hired Bangalore-based IT entrepreneurs Rajesh Jain and BG Mahesh to propel his social media campaign and oil his lines of communication with the public, now Rahul Gandhi has reportedly sought the assistance of Japanese advertising and communication giant Dentsu to give his campaign a fillip before the polls. According to a report on The Hindustan Times, Dentsu will be leading a campaign to consolidate Gandhi's image as a young, dynamic leader who'll empower the common man. Another communications firm, Burson-Marsteller, has been roped in to take on Modi and AAP's social media avalanche and make Rahul a force to reckon with in social media. The HT report states:

"A team of select professionals is working on the project and Rahul Gandhi is closely involved with the creation of the short films and print ads based on him."

However, one has to keep in mind here that a sophisticated publicity campaign, built with the same precision with which product launches are designed, doesn't essentially help dilute the assumptions the voting population makes about the political class. In fact, a corporate approach to the polls in India would only help widen the breach between the voters and the political class in the country. A campaign that  decisively looks like an elaborate advertisement of achievements will only help sediment the stereotypes - most of them unflattering - that the general voting population nurtures about political leaders.

Getting down to the basics, how does one publicise the achievements of Rahul Gandhi - an MP, who has never held a portfolio in any government in India and is important in the political milieu of our country because of his descent. In fact, by centering Congress's poll campaign on Gandhi, the party will only end up reinforcing the body of criticism against it-- one that comprises allegations of dynastic politics, nepotism, high handedness and elitism.

Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party took to social media with a vengeance but scrupulously refrained from advertising the 'achievements' of its leaders. Let alone achievements, they did not even mention the credentials of their leader - some of who were, academically and professionally, worth flaunting. Because the party knew that an election can't be won by appealing to the intellectual whims and eye for aesthetics of a certain urbane section of the society. Their voters were ones who queued up at a community tap to fill water, their voters were ones who were likely to default on steep electricity bills. These voters would neither be enchanted by the fact that Kejriwal is an IIT graduate, nor would they have been taken in by the Powerpoint presentations on the city's electricity consumption. Hence, Kejriwal's 'bijli paani' pitch clicked with then. Incidentally, a lot of the same voters, and many more with even lesser patience for AVs, are who Congress is looking at. It is not too difficult to imagine that short films, made in a visual language that is both unfamiliar and unappealing to large sections of voters, isn't going to get them the votes!

 

CAG’s telco audit: Conflicting views from Cong; Left, AAP happy

The Congress has hailed as a "good sign" the Delhi High Court order upholding the constitutional validity of laws empowering the CAG to conduct revenue audits of private telecom firms.

"It is a good sign. It is stretching the definition of accountability and transparency," a PTI report quoted party spokesman Sanjay Jha as saying.

He was asked to react on the order and whether it would strengthen the case of AAP government in Delhi to go in for CAG audit of private power companies.

Reuters

"At the end of the day, in provision of public service, one has to ensure highest level of probity," he said.

In its order, the court said that according to the terms of licence agreements, private telecom companies had undertaken the accounting responsibility on behalf of the Centre also and their accounts, in relation to revenue receipts, can be termed as the accounts of the central government also and hence, they would be the subject matter of the CAG's audit.

Jha's comments, however, conflict with that of P C Chacko, also a Congress spokesperson. Chacko is the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee that probed the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

"As of now, we do not know how the Government auditor can audit the accounts of a private individual or company. There are independent auditors for private companies," he has been quoted as saying in a report in The Hindu BusinessLine. He expected the companies to move the higher court against the high court order.

Left and the Aam Aadmi Party, unsurprisingly, have welcomed the order, the HBL report said.

"We feel vindicated," CPI (M) leader and MP KN Balagopal has told the newspaper. He wants all private companies that handle public resources like mines and ports to be audited by the CAG.

"We welcome the judgement," AAP leader Prashant Bhushan has been quoted as saying in the HBL report.

The court order has come at a time when the Delhi government, brushing aside objections from power distribution companies (discoms) controlled by Anil Ambani and Tata groups, ordered an audit of their accounts by the CAG.

With inputs from PTI