Aussie election campaigns are missing the masala

This federal election seasonis lacklustre compared to India's colourful political campaigning

BY SANAM SHARMA

The poLitical battlelineshave been drawn;Australiagoesro the polls on 2Ju1y 20'16. The country's major political parties have gone 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 going wild with political opinionsand primetimeTV has political Aavour to its programmingacross aUmajorchannels.Australiaisabuzzwith election fever.

Yet,some of us who have had the experience of growingup in Indiamay find thiselection season inAustraliaabit dull. Comparedto election campaigningin India, tile Australian version of this mega political event is rather bland.

Let's start witl1the election slogansof thevariouspolitical parties. Australia's current Prin1e MinisterMalcolmTurnbull recentlybeganthe Liberal Party's election campaign under tl1e slogan"OurPlan for a StrongerEconomy". That seems more Like a statement thana slogan. "Abkihoar, lviodi Sarkaal' is a slogan.A cleverly crafted, rhyming, social med.ia fiendly, hashtagable, contemporary slogan.

Slogansaside, the emblems of Australian politicalparties also lack creative Aair.

Brooms,lotuses, palms, elephants, sickles, announcements is if you happen to be hidingin an underground bomb shelter. Arguably,it's afar more effectiveway for a politicalcand.idateto reachourco people in tlleirconstituency. Especially when you compare it with alonely Australian political candidate bravingtheearly morningcold while handingoutelection leaflets at a suburbantrain station, only to be mistaken by commuters as a volunteer for the Jehovah's Wia1esses.

Then, as 2July draws closer, political rivals across tile major parties will faceoff in prime tin1e tele,7isiondebates. The debates wiUbe strictly moderated, with professionaldecorum maintained by the politicians,TV hosts, panels andstudio audiences. Peopleathome willtune in and listenimentlywith a view to deciding whicb way they aregoingto vote. How boring!

Picture thelively Indianalternative: A prominent city streetis dugupand turned into an electionp,wd,u,Ito hostan election rally for apoliticalcandidate.The adjoining streets and roads are blocked off while therallyis heldand truckloads of people pourin to listento their candidates. In a seaof top-notch security, Aoralgarlands and rousingslogans peoplewelcome the politicians to a lavishly decorated stage for rheir public address As soon as they are finishedralk.ing, the politicians are briskly whiskedaway.Over the nextfew days after this megaevent,life inthatcity slowlycrawlsback conormalcy -and then, anotller politician decidesto hold a rally. J\nd so it rolls on.

Billboards,roo,telladifferent story between theAussieand lndian election weighing scales,bicycles, arrows, and many suchinnovativeemblemsadorn the ballot papersin a typical Indian election. Now, imaginevotingonamundaneAustraLian ballot paper that merely lists the party name, completely devoid of a colourful coUectionof electionemblems. One must compliment theAustralian SexParty for lendingsome much-needed spice to the Aussie ballot paper.

In India, anelectioncampaignis best deliveredthrough a slender loudspeaker, mounted on top of a modest autorickshaw tliat slowly crawls through tile city streets. The campaign slogans and policy man.ifestos,are deafeningly shouted across theentire city dayandn.ight. The only way you can miss hearingtllese political campaigns Australian billboards are rnodest, sparsely placed tlirough cities, oftenfeaturinga photo of tl1e relevant candidate witl1 a succinct electionmessage listedunderneath. How banal.

Travelthrough anJndiantown duringan electionandwtness tl1eentirecityplastered with election billboards of all shapesand sizes.The billboards are colourful and busy,led by a smilingphoto of the political candidate anda featuringa supportingcast aslongasacomet's tail.The supporting ensemble comprisesof the,vell-wishers of thecandidates -their neigbboms,children, friends, even petdogsandcats!

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

As al,vays happensin thesecases, the motlierthen turned to her daughter and said, "\X/hat doyou want?You know I alwaysjust wantyouto dowhat )'OU want to do."

Thegir.lreplied,in haltingwords,"I. I. want wa.nt co jump."

Theteacher looked onandsaid,"You don'thave to do this."

Thegirl lookedat hermother whowas staring at herdaughter.Themothersaid, "Shesaid she wants to jump.Goodgirl."

The teacher looked aroundto the otl1er teachersi.n thearea.Theylooked uncomfortable, and a couple of them turned and looked away.The teacher looked at the girl.Lookedattlie blood. Watched her limp to the high jump, siton the ground to changeher shoes.