Elections are often won by convincing the people in the middle - the swing vote. These people are not fanatically attached to either side, but the moderates who can switch votes from one party to an another. In most state elections the past 2 years, the opposition parties were preaching the choir [getting applauses in JNU, The Hindu and other comfort zones] rather than actually trying to win over the people in the middle.
First, they have to cut out the personal attacks on Modi. Sonia Gandhi pulled the unthinkable in 2004 not by attacking Vajpayee’s integrity, but by attacking his policies. Vajpayee was highly respected and it would have been a suicide to attack his personality. Rather she talked about how the poor were not cared as much in a “shining India”. Criticism with a kernel of truth would hurt a lot.
In the same way, Modi is highly popular not just with BJP but with those in the middle. For the people to hear your criticism, you have to deliver it with respect and sincerity. In contrast, Kejriwal was spewing hatred in the past 2 years with personal attacks on the PM. Look at the humiliation AAP suffered in various recent elections including MCD, Goa, Punjab etc. The idealistic party was brought to its knees by messing up a basic reality.
Criticism will hurt only if thrown with sincerity and respect. If you keep talking about “jumblebaaz”, “feku” and other epithets you might get applauses from the JNU crowd, but the middle would desert you without you even knowing about it.
Second, you have to be saying what you stand for, rather than fixating on Modi. AAP was able to win a landslide in Delhi assembly elections by standing for a lot of things - cleaner governance, passing lokpal, giving free electricity etc. They were not as fixated on Modi then. Then they just deteriorated like the Kotla pitch. That is the lesson they have to learn. By talking everything about Modi, you are just giving BJP a lot of free publicity.
Rather talk about your own achievements and vision. If you have only 60 seconds to get heard by the general public, use that time to talk about healthcare, pollution and provide positivity than dwelling in negativity.
As a whole what does the opposition stand for? In Bihar assembly elections, Nitish was able to articulate what he stood for. It is not just Lalu’s goonda power. That is how he won against BJP. Who will articulate for the opposition now?
Third, criticise the union government for their mistakes not others. If you have only 3 points to criticise the Union government, use those 3 wisely. If you use that slot for individual pieces of crime where the state government is the one involved, you are just throwing your opportunity. Very few people blamed the Karnataka government for the spate of murders although it is the one that controls the police and responsible for bringing the killers to book. The central government doesn’t control police or law & order. Rather it controls things like the economy, national defense and trade. The criticism has to be centered on that.
Fourth, don’t talk as though hell is falling. Opposition talks as though the whole nation is falling apart with colourfully anachronistic terminology drawn from WW2 [nazism, fascism]. But, many in the middle don’t see things getting worse. However, this middle also knows many things are not getting as better as they would like and if you talk hope about how their next meal will be secured or how their children would get jobs, that is a way to win the masses.
Finally, you really need to stand up for your country, at least once in a while. And start appreciating the government for doing the same. People, as much they appear to be, are no fools and would want a government who can provide them a better future.
The opposition parties must really learn the importance of majority, rather than trying to ride on minorities' 'vote banks' everytime.
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