Contrasting styles of campaigning

V Ramu Sarma’s column ‘In my opinion’ mirrors the general mood of the public on the eve of assembly elections. it is true that while the voter had evolved and matured in our democratic system, reverse is the case with our leaders. Looking at the electioneering styles of our politicians it is obvious that the standards have reached an all-time low what with crass mudslinging and personal abuse.

Even in his worst dreams KCR wouldn’t have visualised the possibility of Congress and TDP coming together. The reality of the matter had shocked him since the combine is a formidable one for him even on his best day. Hence he had grown restless and spitting fire at opponents. For him Modi is a liar and Rahul a joker. It is left to one’s imagination how he is to be categorised using the same lexicon.

KCR claims that there is no discrimination against those who have come from other parts. But they attack the candidature of Suhasini of TDP from Kukatpally. Is she to be treated as an outcast just because she belongs to NTR clan though she was born and brought up here?
At the national level when we compare the electioneering of Modi and Rahul Gandhi , we find that Modi’s speeches smack of ill-humour and rancour while the latter is focusing more on the failures of the government like demonetisation, price rise, corruption etc. KCR’S challenge that he will make the Centre bend backwards to enforce his promises is laughable.

It is he who bent backward and forward at Modi and failed to attain anything substantial for the state. He had announced the names of candidates in about hundred seats with much fanfare long before the elections but the manifesto is not declared till now. Maybe he wants to pick the finer points from others to be included in his agenda. Hence he was waiting till the last minute. In all fairness he should have released his manifesto earlier to tell the people what is there in store for them in the event of his re-election. The electioneering is in the final lap now we may witness increased frenzy and ear-splitting galore of promises and abuses.