NEW DELHI: It’s a political theatre, literally. The state BJP, which counts on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a poll win, will take his messages to every nook and cranny of the city through street plays on his life and times. Especially after Modi generated a mood favorable to the BJP during his first rally in Delhi on Saturday in the run-up to the Assembly polls.
The BJP’s strategy this time is, however, to focus on the Modi government’s achievements to neutralise its political opponents.
From January 12, the party will start with the traditional way of spreading the programmes and achievements of the seven-month-old Modi government, through Nukkad Natak (street play) in the capital, to garner the attention of the people through entertainment.
Nukkad Nataks have been organised by the BJP in the past too, but what is new this time is the “Modi-fication” of the themes of the plays that will focus on the life and times of Modi.
“Swatch Bharat campaign, Jan Dhan Yojna and Adarsh Gramin Yojana would form the focus of the street plays. We have finalised 14 theatre groups and the universal theme is development. The performance would be in markets, JJ clusters and other places,” said BJP leader Lokesh Sharma, who is part of the party committee for such campaign methods.
The 14 theatre groups include prominent names like Hariom Sharnam, Om Sai theatre, Himalaya Group, Chahat-e-Manzil and Miles theatre. Topi dhoka deke bhaag gayee and Make India Modi Laya are the two songs that have been provided by the party to the groups to feature in their presentations.
“The groups have different themes from each other but the common theme is development and the image of Modi as Vikas Purush. We do not need to do any negative publicity about anyone so we are focusing on the positive things,” Sharma told The Sunday Standard.
The Nukkad Natak campaign would also include Modi’s efforts to bring back hidden black money. The BJP’s calculated strategy is to hijack the anti-corruption crusade from the AAP as in the eyes of the middle-class people, it is the AAP that is fighting against corruption.
Similarly, the launch of the Himmat app for women in distress launched by the Delhi Police in the presence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also aimed at deflecting the charge of the AAP that the NDA government has not been able to provide safety and security to women. The CCTV installed by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu across Delhi would also be in favour of the BJP, feels BJP president Satish Upadhyay.
Jahan jhuggi wahin makaan, Bhajapa ka hai ailan is a popular slogan that is drawing much interest among the slum-dwellers. The government’s move to redevelop 685 bastis and JJ clusters is expected to make an impact in the AAP strongholds in this election. The JJ dwellers had in large numbers rooted for the AAP candidates in the previous elections.