What if political rivalries were not involved in any corruption-related cases?
This is where ‘character assassination’ Strategy works to some extent.
It is unquestionably unpleasant to be personally attacked or treated uncivilly, but it sometimes works for the political parties to gain mileage in politics.
It is a bitter truth that negativity spreads faster and taken seriously by the mass than reality. A deliberate mudslinging and negative campaigning process in politics help damage public image of a leader to some extent, as negative information gets a massive media as well as public attention.
The character assassination process eventually influences the credibility and reputation of a leader.
Why politicians choose ‘personal attacks’?
Politicians normally focus on making accusations on Corruption and incapability of their political rivalries.
What If a political rivalry is free from corruption-related charges including frauds, money-launderings or any sort of such things?
This is where politicians are forced to get personal.
A Case of Narendra Modi and Pawan Kalyan.
Political rivalries including Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and other regional parties have been slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014 for failing to fulfil the promises (i.e bringing Black Money, special category status to Andhra Pradesh and so forth) given to the people.
These criticisms have been received so well by the people and they are appreciable in a democracy because people seek accountability from the ruling parties.
But the problem is they are not simply confined to those important issues that matter to people.
Political rivalries in several instances get too personal.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday (10th of Feb) attacked Modi’s personal life saying “you (Modi) don’t have a son, you don’t have a family, you don’t have relations.”
Naidu also asked Modi, “you have estranged your wife. Do you have any respect in the family system”?.
Now, let’s go to JanaSena party chief Pawan Kalyan’s case who selflessly supported BJP-TDP back in 2014 and had not contested in elections nor taken any Ministry or Rajya Sabha.
When he felt that BJP and TDP failed in fulfilling the promises given to the people of Andhra Pradesh state he started hitting them hard by questioning on the issues.
Since then the TDP leaders and pro-TDP media have been focusing on making personal insults on Pawan Kalyan.
They also brought so called critics and actresses into scene and promoted them on the media. They went too far as they even dared to abuse Pawan Kalyan’s mother.
Now, let’s conclude it .
If a politician committed a serious crime (i.e corruption), political rivalries don’t have to choose ‘character assassination’ option, because corruption cases are enough to influence people and get them out of power in next elections.
What if rivalries were not involved in any corruption-related cases?
This is where ‘character assassination’ strategy works to some extent.
Have you got it?
