With elections ‘09 looming, India’s politicians are also gearing up for the kill.

IIPM Programme :- SUPERIOR COURSE CONTENTS

Back home, you only have to flashback to December 2007 to see how the political marketing fever has seized India’s once dogmatic and rhetoric-oriented netas. The Gujarat election campaigning was at its peak that time, and political supporters of firebrand BJP leader Narendra Modi thronged election rallies wearing slickly designed Modi masks, which added the hysteria value to the overall brand Modi. Reminiscent of the successive Reagan, Carter, Clinton, Bush and now Obama masks that have defined US election campaigns for decades, the made-in-China Modi masks were conceived by Modi’s campaign managers.

40-year old fine-arts professional, Manish Bardia, who designed the Modi mask still remains in awe of the CM’s understanding of media. “The masks were a small part of the Modi campaign, which started at least a year before elections. Whatever the government did - however small - was communicated via media,” says Bardia. Incidentally, 20-days prior to the election, Bardia was asked by Modi’s team to design the website - Gujarat Gaurav Fan Club, on lines of Clinton and Obama’s websites. “It was to tap the NRI Gujarati base and youngsters in the state,” explains Bardia. The website was a hit with target audiences, registering almost 15 lakh hits in 20 days and visible across Facebook and Orkut.

Strangely though, while Modi’s over-the-top image makeover, backed by a pro-communication & technology strategy was lapped up by Gujarati voters recently; BJP’s similar national strategy did not cut much ice with the electorate when the nation went to polls in 2004. BJPs $20 million India Shining campaign hogged TV spots and print media at the time. Conceived by ad agency Grey Worldwide, the advertising zing was combined with top-of-the-line online presence, bulk e-mail, blogs, posters and India Shining rhetoric during election rallies. Political watchers were convinced that the slogan and its accompanying promise would win the day for BJP. But when election results came in, the saffron party crumbled. Some grudgingly even admitted that what works for the US does not necessarily work in India.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
Now IIPM's World-Class Education... for everybody!!
IIPM INTERNATIONAL - NEW DELHI, GURGAON & NOIDA
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM : EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
IIPM’s 36th Glorious Year of Academic Excellence
4Ps Power Brand Awards 2007
When IIPM comes to education, never compromise
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!
IIPM Ranked No. 1 B-School In Global Exposre - Zee...