Aussie election campaigns are missing the masala

This federal election seasonis lacklustre compared to India's colourfulpolitical campaigning

BYSANAM SHARMA

The poLitical battlelines have been drawn; Australiagoesro the polls on 2Ju1y 20'16. The country's major politicalparties havegone into election overdrive, furiouslycampaigning across the nation, as the people of Australiaget ready toelect tl1e federal government for the next three years.

Talkback radio is goingwild with political opinionsand primetimeTV has political Aavour to its programmingacross aUmajor channels. Australiais abuzz with election fever.

Yet,someof us whohavehad the experience of growingupinIndiamay find thiselection season in Australiaabit dull. Comparedtoelection campaigningin India, tile Australian version of this mega political event is rather bland.

Let's start witl1 the election slogans of the various political parties. Australia's current Prin1eMin.isterMalcolmTurnbull recentlybegan theLiberal Party'selection campaign under tl1eslogan"OurPlan for a StrongerEconomy". That seems more Like astatementthana slogan. "Abki hoar, lviodi Sarkaal' is a slogan.A cleverly crafted, rhyming,social media friendly,hashtagable, contemporary slogan.

Slogans aside, the emblems of Australian political parties also lack creative Aair.

Brooms, lotuses, palms, elephants, sickles, announcements is if you happen to be hidingin an underground bomb shelter. Arguably,it's a far more effectiveway for apoliticalcand.idate to reachour co people in tlleirconstituency. Especially when you compare it with alonely Australian political candidate bravingthe early morningcold whilehandingout election leaflets at a suburban train station,only to be mistaken by commuters as a volunteer for the Jehovah'sWia1esses.

Then, as 2July draws closer, political rivals acrosstile major parties will faceoff in prime tin1e tele,7ision debates. The debates willbe strictlymoderated, with professional decorum maintained by the politicians,TV hosts,panels and studio audiences. Peopleathome will tune in andlistenimentlywitha view to deciding whicb way they aregoingto vote. How boring!

Picture the lively Indian alternative: A prominent city street is dug up and turned into an electionp,wd,u,Itohostan election rally for apoliticalcandidate.The adjoining streets and roads are blocked off while the rallyis held and truckloads of people pour in to listen to their candidates. In a seaof top-notch security, Aoralgarlands and rousingslogans people welcome the politicians to a lavishlydecorated stage for rheir public address.As soonas they are finished ralk.ing, thepoliticians are briskly whisked away. Over the next few days after this megaevent,lifeinthatcity slowlycrawlsback conormalcy - and then, anotllerpolitician decides to hold a raUy. J\nd so it rolls on.

Billboards, roo, telladifferentstory between theAussieand lndian election weighing scales,bicycles, arrows, and many such innovative emblemsadorn the ballot papers in a typical Indianelection. Now, imagine votingona mundane Australian ballotpaper that merely lists the party name, completely devoid of a colourful coUectiouof electionemblems. One must compliment theAustralian SexParty for lendingsome much-needed spice to the Aussie ballot paper.

InIndia,anelection campaign is best delivered through a slender loudspeaker, moumed on top of a modestautorickshaw tliat slowly crawls throughtilecity streets. The campaign slogansand policy man.ifestos, are deafeningly shouted across the entire city dayandn.ight.The only way you can miss hearingtllese political campaigns. Australianbillboardsare rnodest, sparselyplaced tlirough cities, oftenfeaturingaphotoof the relevant candidate witl1 a succinctelectionmessage Listedunderneath. How banal.

Travelthrough an Jndian town duringan electionand wtness tl1eentirecityplastered with election billboardsof all shapesand sizes.The billboardsarecolourful and busy,led by asmilingphotoof thepolitical candidate anda featuringa supportingcast aslongasacomet's tail.Thesupporting ensemble comprisesof the,vell-wishers of the candidates - their neighboms,children, friends,even petdogsand cats!

East is East and West is West,as tl1ey say,and it seems federal elections are no exception.