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Written By Ravi_D - 26 February, 2009

Bangalore Politics governance Development Complaint Everything else

Have you noticed those huge full-page / half-page ads in the news papers the last few days? DH carried two or three such full page ads yesterday, and a bunch of 1/2 page or smaller ones. All ads depict the 'development' efforts by the GOI and GOK departments you probably have never heard existed. Ofcourse, they come complete with prominent pictures of CM or PM or some other minister(s) (who, again, you might have never heard of).

Notice those faces. They want you to - and that is the sole purpose. Content in the ad is not important - faces are. So you remember the faces, next time they come to ask your vote. And don't expect to hear from them again until next time they need your vote. And also remember, YOU are paying for those full page ads, with your taxes.

What pubic good do these ads serve? I don't mind our Government spending money to educate the masses, but in these ads, didn't notice contact details for citizens to call, or details of beneficieries or details of benefits...

Ravi

COMMENTS

jeevan se mukti!

murali772 - 26 February, 2009 - 07:27

This has now become the standard pre-election date announcement practice. Once the dates are announced, the election code of conduct does not permit such blatant advertising.

Indeed, colossal waste of money! On top of it all, by organisations that have the least credibility, like ESIC. Rather than "Chinta se mukti", thier ad byline may as well be "jeevan se mukti" - check 

http://health-careless.blogspot.com/

Muralidhar Rao

It is election time

Rithesh - 26 February, 2009 - 08:22

You will also be surprised at the rate our CM is laying foundations stones or inaugurating project works in Bangalore in the past 2 weeks.

I was told that the Magadi Road - Cord Road junction underpass was hurried completed with sub-standard work so that the CM could inaugurate it yesterday. So much for one mans publicity carvings!!

Once the elections are announced the model code of conduct comes into force and they are not supposed to do all these and also place advertisements in the newspapers (todays TOI has 4 full pages of such advertisements - who's father's what goes - yar appandu en hogabeku). Hence all this flurry of activities.

Why do we see Sonia's pictures?

javajee - 26 February, 2009 - 15:37

What I notice in all these newspaper add is Sonia Gandhi's pictures. Does she hold any office other than being elected to parliament? I am not sure what right they have to squander tax payers's money. It is some arcane rule that allows them to take advantage of paid advertisement.

Rush to beat the deadline

silkboard - 26 February, 2009 - 17:45

Central coal ministry, ministry of renewable energy and what not beating their drum, every day now. Pictures of ministers flashing all over. Thats one party, the one with legacy

And then there is the other one, the party with a difference - CM is spending his time innugurating ultra local projects, announcing regular matter of fact-ly local area projects in and around the city with no elected local government with so much fanfare.

They are all the same, aren't they!

Why this sudden rush? As others have mentioned above, its to beat the election code of conduct deadline. I bet there would be a dozen PILs in courts this month challenging government spending money on beating its drums via print and TV ads. A political party directly asking for votes would be a lot better than these proxy ads wasting public money.

However, I wonder what prevents our parties from running ads taking direct credit for governance. Otherwise, why are there no direct ads linking a political party with government projects. None of the ads (Central, or state) mention parties by name, nor do they carry their election symbols. Is it some rule preventing them from doing that? Or is that where they draw the line!?

Will we see negative ads in upcoming elections? Imagine a TV ad showing blackouts, mud roads, dried crops etc and saying "Bharat ka Vinaash ho rahaa hai". Will we see someone stopp to these levels as well? I am guessing yes. If not at that level, then at the levels of direct attacks on personalities for sure. Lets see.

your point is perfectly valid

nishu - 26 February, 2009 - 19:30

Hope this stops as soon as possible.

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