question_answer

The time is after midnight. An expectant crowd sitting for the past five hours in a chowk of the town is waiting for its leader to come. The organisers assure and reassure the crowd that he would be here any moment. The crowd stands up whenever a passing vehicle comes that way. It arouses hopes that he has come.

The leader is Mr. Devi Lal. chief of the llaryana Sangharsh Samiti, who was to address a meeting  in karnal on Thursday night. The 76-year-old leader, is a very busy man these days. His day starts at 8 a.m. and ends after 11 p.m..... he had already addressed nine election meetings since morning.

Mr. Devi Lal has no new philosophy or slogans to give to people of Haryana as he had been constantly addressing public meetings fur the past 23 months and preparing for this election.

Devi Lal's approach to his audience is direct. He does not mince words in telling his audience that they should repose their trust in the Lok Dal and he would build for them a "New Haryana". His slogan "Bharshtachar Bandh Aur Pani Ka Prabandh" (End to corruption and provision for water) is old as the agitation launched by his Sangarsh Samiti. On the basis of the above narrative, give examples to prove or refute the following assertions,

(a) The party that ruled before the elections and the one that formed government after the elections was the same. Name the party,

(b) Devilal was very popular among the people at that time.

(c) Lok Dal did not make any promises to people.

(d) Devi Lal fulfilled his promise to waive off farmer loans on becoming chief minister.

(e) Devi Lal had not given any manifesto to the people. What are the other means by which people could know about their priorities?

(f) What are the different methods used by political parties during the election campaign to seek vote?

Answer:

       

(a) No, it was not the same. The party that ruled before the elections was Congress. The party that formed the government was the Lok Dal.

(b) His popularity can be seen by the fact that the people of Haryana voted for him in large numbers. The party (Lok Dal) he spearheaded won 60 seats and secured a clear majority in the assembly. The newly elected Lok Dal MLAs chose Devi Lai as their leader and he went on to become the Chief Minister of Haryana.

(c) The Lok Dal promised to look to the interests of the small farmers and shopkeepers by waiving off their loans.

(d) Yes, on becoming Chief Minister Devi Lai passed an order waiving off the loans to the small farmers, agricultural labourers and small shopkeepers.

(e) People could know about their priorities through the election meetings which they hold.

(f) Political parties conduct house to house canvassing, hold processions, paste posters on walls of bazaars and streets. They also use the media to highlight their achievements and spread knowledge of their promises. Distributing of handbills and broadcasting and telecasting of speeches of various party leaders are also examples of campaigning techniques.