The Problem with Political Jokes
Biswanath Bhattacharya
May 9, 2024, 04:03:29
The quote, "The problem with political jokes is that they get elected," is often attributed to the American comedian and actor Will Rogers, known for his witty and satirical commentary on politics and society in the early 20th century. However, there is no definitive evidence that Rogers actually said or wrote this phrase, and it may have been a variation of an older joke circulated in newspapers and magazines in the 1920s and 1930s.
The quote implies that politicians are not severe or competent enough to govern and are more like jokes or entertainers than leaders. It also suggests that voters are foolish or gullible enough to elect such candidates or that the electoral system is rigged or corrupted by money and influence. The quote expresses a cynical and humorous view of democracy and the quality of political representation.
Elections in India often hailed as the “festival of democracy”, are grand-scale events marked by vibrant campaigns, intense debates, and sometimes peculiar incidents that sway public opinion and outcomes unexpectedly. From technological shifts to unexpected national tragedies, each election has offered unique stories that illustrate how dynamic, multifaceted, and unpredictable the world’s largest democracy can be. These events—sometimes funny, often strange, consistently impactful—highlight that in the vibrant theatre of Indian politics, anything can influence an election. Hence, a study of general elections in India becomes a study of the collective psyche of the country.
The country’s first general election in 1951-52 was a watershed moment for the nascent democracy. The Indian National Congress, which had spearheaded the independence movement, was the dominant force, riding on the popularity of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and the promise of a unified, secular, and progressive India. The party’s agenda centred around nation-building, economic development, and social reform. The people broadly went with this narrative, as they were eager for home rule after a period of colonisation.
The Indian general elections are the largest democratic exercise in the world, with hundreds of millions of voters participating in a complex and diverse electoral system. The elections reflect the social, economic, and political realities of the country, as well as the aspirations and grievances of its people. In this document, we will briefly review the main issues and outcomes of the Indian general elections from 1971 to 2004, which witnessed significant changes in the political landscape and the emergence of new challenges and opportunities for the nation.
1971: The Rise of Indira Gandhi
The 1971 election was a decisive victory for Indira Gandhi, who had split from the Congress Party in 1969 and formed her own faction, the Congress (R). She campaigned on the slogan of "Garibi Hatao" (Eradicate Poverty), promising to implement radical reforms to address the problems of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. She also capitalised on her successful role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which boosted her image as a strong and decisive leader. She won 352 out of 518 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, and secured a comfortable majority.
1977: The Backlash Against the Emergency
The 1977 election was a historic defeat for Indira Gandhi, who had imposed a state of Emergency in 1975, suspending civil liberties and arresting her political opponents. The Emergency was widely seen as a threat to democracy and a violation of human rights. One of the most controversial aspects of the Emergency was the forced mass sterilisation drive led by her son, Sanjay Gandhi, which aimed to control population growth but resulted in widespread anger and fear among the people. The opposition parties united under the banner of the Janata Party, which campaigned on the platform of restoring democracy and ending corruption. The Janata Party won 295 out of 542 seats in the Lok Sabha and formed the first non-Congress government in independent India.
1984: The Sympathy Wave After Indira Gandhi's Assassination
The 1984 election was a landslide victory for the Congress Party, which was led by Rajiv Gandhi, the son of Indira Gandhi, who had been assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. The assassination triggered a wave of sympathy and emotion across the nation, which overshadowed all other election issues. The Congress Party won 404 out of 514 seats in the Lok Sabha, the largest majority ever seen in Parliament. Rajiv Gandhi became the youngest prime minister of India, and inherited a legacy of challenges and opportunities from his mother.
1996: The Hawala Scandal and the Hung Parliament
The 1996 election was a setback for the Congress Party, which had been in power for a decade under Rajiv Gandhi and his successor, P.V. Narasimha Rao. The party faced allegations of corruption, especially in the wake of the Hawala scandal, which involved alleged payments to top politicians by hawala brokers. The scandal eroded the credibility and popularity of the party, and created a perception of endemic corruption in the political system. The electorate denied a clear majority to any party, resulting in a hung Parliament and a series of short-lived governments. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 161 out of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha but could not form a stable coalition. The United Front, a coalition of regional and left parties, formed a government with the outside support of the Congress Party, but it lasted only two years.
2004: The Failure of the India Shining Campaign
The 2004 election was a surprise defeat for the BJP, which had been in power since 1998 under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The party fought on an "India Shining" campaign, highlighting the government's achievements in economic growth, infrastructure development, and nuclear tests. The campaign was intended to showcase the progress and potential of the nation, but it backfired spectacularly. Many voters felt that the campaign was out of touch with the ground realities of poverty, unemployment, and rural distress. The party's unexpected defeat was a stark reminder that electoral victories require more than just glossy narratives; they must resonate with the lived experiences of the voters. The Congress Party, led by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, staged a comeback with the help of its allies in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The UPA won 222 out of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha and formed a government with the support of the Left parties.
The Indian general elections are the world's largest democratic exercise, with hundreds of millions of voters casting their ballots every five years. The polls reflect the diversity, complexity, and dynamism of Indian society and politics, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the world's largest democracy. This article will briefly summarise the main features and outcomes of the Indian general elections from 1971 to 2004, covering nine electoral cycles and six prime ministers. Social media has emerged as a powerful tool for political communication and mobilisation in the 21st century. It has enabled politicians, parties, activists, and citizens to interact with each other, share information, opinions, and emotions, and influence public opinion and behaviour. Social media has played a significant role in the last three general elections in India, with varying degrees of impact and effectiveness. This document aims to compare and contrast the role of social media in the 2014, 2019 and 2024 elections in India and analyze how it has shaped the political landscape and the electoral outcomes.
2014: The Rise of Social Media-Powered Campaigning
The 2014 election was a watershed moment in the history of Indian politics, as it marked the first time a political party used social media extensively and strategically to win a decisive mandate. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, leveraged the power of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WhatsApp to reach out to millions of voters, especially the young and urban segments, and create a positive and charismatic image of Modi as a strong, decisive, and development-oriented leader. The BJP also used social media to counter the negative propaganda of the incumbent Congress party, which was mired in corruption scandals and policy paralysis, and to highlight the failures and weaknesses of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The BJP's social media campaign was aided by a dedicated team of professionals, volunteers, and supporters, who created and disseminated a large volume of content, such as videos, memes, slogans, and hashtags, to generate buzz and enthusiasm among the voters. The BJP also used social media to mobilize its cadre and supporters, and to organize rallies, events, and interactions with Modi. The BJP's social media campaign was widely credited for its success in the 2014 election, as it helped the party secure a historic majority of 282 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, and form the first single-party government in 30 years.
2019: The Dominance of National Security and Patriotism
The 2019 election saw the continuation and consolidation of the BJP's social media dominance, as the party used its massive online presence and network to reinforce its message and agenda. The BJP's social media campaign focused on two main themes: the achievements and performance of the Modi government in the past five years and the issue of national security and patriotism, which was triggered by the Pulwama terrorist attack and the subsequent Balakot airstrike in February 2019. The BJP used social media to project Modi as a strong and decisive leader who had delivered on his promises of development, welfare, and reforms and who had taken bold and courageous actions to protect the nation's sovereignty and security. The BJP also used social media to attack and discredit the opposition parties, especially the Congress, which was led by Rahul Gandhi, and to portray them as weak, corrupt, and anti-national. The BJP's social media campaign was complemented by its offline campaign, which involved massive rallies, roadshows, and door-to-door visits by Modi and other party leaders and workers. The BJP's social media campaign was successful in creating a wave of support and enthusiasm among the voters, especially in the urban and semi-urban areas, and in overcoming the challenges posed by the agrarian crisis, unemployment, demonetisation, and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The BJP's social media campaign helped the party win a bigger majority of 303 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha and form the second consecutive single-party government in India.
2024: The Challenge of Independent Media and Content Creators
The 2024 election is expected to witness a new and emerging challenge for the BJP's social media supremacy, as independent media outlets and content creators are gaining popularity and credibility among the voters, especially the young and educated segments. These independent media and content creators, such as Dhruv Rathee, Ravish Kumar, The Wire, The Quint, and others, are using social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to produce and disseminate content that is critical, analytical, and factual, and that exposes the myths, lies, and fake news propagated by the BJP and its allies. These independent media and content creators are also highlighting the real issues that matter in an election, such as the economy, health, education, environment, and social justice, and are forcing the opposition parties to react and respond to them. These independent media and content creators are also engaging and educating the public, and are prompting the apolitical and indifferent voters to exercise their franchise and participate in the democratic process. These independent media and content creators are posing a serious threat to the BJP's social media hegemony, as they are challenging the BJP's narrative and agenda, and are exposing the BJP's failures and shortcomings. These independent media and content creators are likely to influence the outcome of the 2024 election, as they are creating a space for alternative voices and perspectives and are empowering the voters to make informed and rational choices.
Social media has played a vital and influential role in the last three general elections in India and has transformed how politics and elections are conducted and contested in the country. The BJP has been the most successful and effective party in using social media to its advantage and has won two consecutive elections with a massive mandate. However, the BJP's social media dominance is facing a new and formidable challenge from the independent media and content creators, who use social media to expose the BJP's propaganda and agenda and raise the real issues that matter in an election. The 2024 election will be a test of the BJP's social media prowess and will also be a test of the impact and influence of independent media and content creators on the voters and the electoral outcome.
The quote is, however, still relevant today because many people feel disillusioned or dissatisfied with the current state of politics and their election choices. Some people may see politicians as dishonest, incompetent, or corrupt and may resort to humour or sarcasm to cope with their frustration or anger. The quote also reflects the rise of populist and anti-establishment movements that challenge the traditional political elites and appeal to the emotions and grievances of the masses. The quote may also be used to criticise or mock the candidates who use humour, charisma, or celebrity status to gain popularity or attention rather than presenting concrete policies or solutions.
(Tripurainfo)