Decoding the Political Chessboard: Marketing Strategies vs. Propaganda Tactics in Recent State Elections.
So, BJP clinched victory in three states, and I’m sure by now you’ve had your fill of election coverage on TV, feeling like an honorary election strategist. But hold on, I’ve got a different perspective for you. Let’s dissect the election from a marketing standpoint, and I’ve concluded that it’s a triumph of marketing and a setback for propaganda.
Now, let’s get one thing straight – Marketing is good, and Propaganda is bad. People often think of marketing as a way to trick people into buying things. They think that marketers are only interested in making money. But marketing can be more than that. It can be a way to help people learn about new products and services that can make their lives better. It can also be a way to build relationships with customers and create a sense of community.
I mean, when was the last time a mother whispered to her newborn, “I hope you grow up to be a marketing whiz”? Never, right?
But let’s dive into the real story here. The fusion of marketing and propaganda started with none other than Hitler – he had a propaganda minister, and most governments in the ’40s and ’50s had one too. Fast forward to today, and things have evolved. People now understand the power of marketing.
Marketing is about educating people and providing them with the right information to make informed decisions based on facts and figures. Mr Modi’s victory in the elections is a prime example of effective marketing. Take any of his speeches; he talks about the economy, infrastructure, reforms, railways, highways, banking reforms, single windows, investments, and, above all, the pride of India.
He radiates positivity. After listening to him, we feel inclined to invest more in the stock market, and our trust in India (or Bharat, as he puts it) and its institutions grows with every word.
Modi means business, and Modi means opportunity. He doesn’t delve into age-old political tricks; instead, he focuses on inclusivity over exclusivity.
Remember demonetization? We don’t use cash much these days, and that happened because of Notebandi. I still recall the speeches of the ex-finance minister, P Chidambaram, Sharad Yadav, and almost every non-BJP leader making fun of demonetization.
They laughed at the Sardar Patel statue, demonetization, Make in India, our vaccines, Startup India, Namo Bharat trains, UPI, Rafale, and almost every new initiative Modi brought to the table. Bullet trains, metros, and the current highways were unthinkable with any other prime minister. They underestimated the power of Indians, while Modi motivated and instilled discipline in us to do better every day.
I won’t delve into other projects, like the temple or Article 370, because my point is that Modi signifies marketing, while today’s opposition indulges in propaganda.
Remember the fake narrative of Rafale, caste-based politics, and Adani groups? That’s actual propaganda – creating a false narrative to garner votes.
Sometimes, we wonder why Mr. Modi keeps telling people about new schemes. Well, if users don’t know about the scheme, some middlemen will reap the benefits. As an ex-PM once mentioned, only 20 paise reaches the users. Marketing creates awareness; propaganda makes fake news and narratives viral.
Marketing celebrates prosperity and inspires people to dream big.
Propaganda celebrates poverty and makes people dependent on government jobs, grants, freebies, and schemes like MGNREGA.
Remember the “Garibi Hatao” (Eradicate Poverty) slogan of the 1970s? Well, it seems that poverty was only eradicated for certain political families.
Back then, the idea of surpassing economic powerhouses like Britain, Germany, and Japan was nothing more than a distant dream. We were constantly bombarded with reminders of our poverty, and told to feel ashamed of our economic backwardness. Every Indian aspired to escape to the greener pastures of Canada, Britain, or the US. Europeans would flock to Dharavi, the infamous Mumbai slum, and our leaders would put on snake shows to entertain them.
But look at us now! We’re standing tall, shoulders squared, ready to take on the world. We’ve got aspirations that soar higher than Mount Everest and a spirit that’s as resilient as the mighty Himalayas. We’re no longer the poor cousins of the world; we’re the new kids on the block, ready to rewrite the rules of the game.
Marketing strengthens nationalism and unity as one country. Propaganda fosters the concept of the brown Sepoy syndrome, where the belief in white man’s superiority and their entitlement to rule over us prevails.
Marketing teaches us to innovate and experiment. Propaganda lacks the guts to innovate; they repeat the same lie repeatedly.
Modi introduced many exciting innovations in this election, including new faces, not declaring the CM’s face, and giving tickets to non-political persons. They sensed the end users’ feelings and crafted their strategy accordingly. A good marketing strategy is a subset of continuous small efforts and B.T.L. activities, which the BJP excels at, unlike relying solely on mass media and ATL campaigns without boots on the ground.
No wonder our PM is the proud recipient of the prestigious Philip Kotler Award in marketing. He’s a trendsetter in social media since 2011.
Politics is like a game where people use different strategies to win power. Elections are like long marketing campaigns where politicians try to convince people to vote for them. We can’t ignore politics because it affects the policies that make our country. Our Prime Minister is very good at marketing and educating people. He is doing an excellent job of providing good services, policies, and solutions to people. We need to ensure that our leaders are working for us and making good decisions for our country.”