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Volume II, No. 2 May-June 2007 Transparency Review Journal of Transparency Studies, Centre for Media Studies (CMS) MAYAWATI DEBUNKS MEDIA CONTENTS U.P. Assembly Elections The Chairman of Centre for Media Studies effectively (1) Mayawati Debunks Media, Money & demolishes the pre-election myth of the might of money, Muscle Power musclemen and the media in the success or failure of the (Dr. N. Bhaskar Rao) -3 respective political parties (2) Silent Revolution in U.P The author analyses the results and pinpoints certain (Mr. Bhibhu Mohapatra) -5 notably distinct features in this election (3) Crime and Punishment Reports in the media on some of the interesting aspects (Transparency Studies) -7 relating to parties and contestants. (4) Five-Star Jails in India The Former Director, CBI says politicians in some of (Mr. Joginder Singh) -12 the jails enjoy all the comforts of a home, making a mockery of their supposed incarceration RIGHT TO INFORMATION Implementation Research Needed Reviewing the working of the RTI, the author concludes, (Dr. N. Bhaskar Rao) -14 with some hard facts, that there is an urgent need to undertake research on the whole gamut of the Act in the light of the two-year experience on the ground On a petition seeking to view documents relating to the Ansari’s Appointment appointment of one of the Central Commissioners, the (Transparency Studies) -16 CIC left it to the Prime Minister’s Office to decide the petition in the light of its earlier orders on similar issues CIC Briefs -17 Some Reports on CIC desicions and court interventions Editor: Ajit Bhattacharjea CEC Protects Dalits Against Bahubalis utting this issue together has proved shock perhaps because they are conveyed a fascinating learning experience. in dry, factual annual reports. Their signif- PWhen it was being planned, we icance has been better conveyed in the anticipated that the long-drawn-out Uttar pages of the Hindustan Times financial Pradesh elections would generate plenty of associate, Mint. The CMS is currently reader-friendly material for Transparency engaged in planning another corruption Review. Interest would be focussed on the survey that will take in the corruption of most serious ailment of our democratic electoral politics, among other scandals. system: the corrosive effect of money and Right to Information has been the heart of criminalisation. Whether Chief Minister Transparency Review. since it was first Mulayam Singh Yadav (so inappropriately published over a year ago. It will remain named) survives or gives way to Mayawati so. But we anticipated a problem. How (appropriately named) or less likely Rahul long could reader-interest be cultivated Gandhi (whose name is his fortune) seemed by a series of stories on the merits of of less significance than whether the elabo- RTI? On disclosures of wrong-doing and rate arrangements made by the Central misappropriation by intrepid applicants for Election Commission to protect the polls opening of routine official files? We were from the 'bahubalis' who have imposed their happily proved wrong. RTI stories have might on the electorate could be curbed. We made headlines almost every day. The were not disappointed, as we hope the read- Central Cabinet, we find, has been tasked er will discover. One story to which we draw by the Central Information Commission to attention is of a Dalit village in the Ballia reveal notings on the file concerning the district of UP. Threatened by the presence of choice of no less a dignitary than the the CEC's forces, upper caste bahubalis Foreign Secretary, the most visible bureau- were unable to prevent Dalit voters from crat in the Government of India, at home voting for the first time since Independence. and abroad. How can the Cabinet be asked The Centre for Media Studies has been to divulge such a top-level secret? The trying to give transparency to the world of Government has appealed to the courts. We corruption and criminalisation for years. must wait for the courts to decide whether Detailed surveys of corruption-prone areas public interest is involved in the matter. You have unearthed shocking data. The figures may have to wait for our next issue to are truly appalling, but they have failed to discover the implications of the outcome. Letters To The Editor Such analysis would positively enhance the effectiveness I have read with great interest your latest issue of TR. of the RTI Act. The single piece of legislation can reduce corruption levels substantially, if properly implemented. Rita Sinha, Secretary, CIC, New Delhi Pradip Baijal, Former Chairman TRAI I find it very enriching Your issue on No Justice for Aam Sadmi is an excel- Udsay Shankar, Asst. Prof., Raipur. lent piece of your sincere and adventurous efforts. It is The articles and information on shortcomings in the simply a superb Job. judicial system and decisions of Central Inforamtion Pro. Madhubhushi Sridar, Hyderabad Commission are very educative and informative. It is very enlightening that such issues can be discussed M.K. Khanna, so openly. Secretary, Rajasthan Information Commission Prof. Ang Peng Hwa (Letters to the editor may be sent by email: [email protected], [email protected]) 2 Transparency Review MAYAWATI DEBUNKS MEDIA, MONEY & MUSCLE POWER Dr. N. Bhakar Rao* SP's Mayawati has demonstrated in the in the just concluded UP Assembly poll, BSP's landmark Assembly UP polls how share was the least, around ten percent. SP, on the Bunconventional wisdom could sway other hand, spent four times more. BJP and voters in the days of hi-tech expensive Congress spent about 35 percent. This is despite campaigns. In the process certain myths like that Election Commission's initiatives to restrain media, money and muscle power determines a expenditure. Mayawati had hardly spent on media poll outcome were underscored. publicity including television commercials, poll While the other parties in UP were busy with surveys and extravagant shows which together media hype directly and indirectly, BSP was busy constitute nearly 40 percent of all poll campaign at the grassroots and, in fact, kept away from the expenditure. Nor did BSP spend to procure votes. news media. Mayawati did not care what the She also did not depend on State leaders from other contenders were arguing out in the televi- outside to campaign for her candidates as the sion studios and in the newspaper pages. She also other parties did. BSP cadres and leaders concen- did not waste money on advertising and visibility trated on their own pockets or constituencies. in the news media. Rather, she had gone for In the UP Assembly poll, the campaign expendi- localized and personalized campaign infusing ture was higher than ever before mostly because confidence in cadres and motivating workers and of staggered seven-phased polls. In fact, what appealing to those who were not known as BSP political parties had spent in this poll in UP was as voters. That is how BSP was able to mobilize its much as what the Government's expenditure was voters when the overall turnout in all the seven for the general elections in the country. No phases was an all time low. Unlike other parties, wonder the Chief Election Commissioner was Mayawati had no populist promises and she had disappointed for "failure to curb excessive use of no poll manifesto either to worry about media money and eliminate money power". publicity. She kept the media at bay because she As to "muscle power" in the poll campaign, had no problem of disconnect with different sec- although BSP too had its share in deploying those tions of the people. In fact she showed how having pending criminal cases as its candidates, a instant rapport could be built with those who were majority of its candidates were "new". One with not part of her base until then. a criminal background, on being elected, has been She has also not wasted her time commissioning made a Minister. The composition of BSP candi- pre-poll surveys or exit polls and had not gone for dates was such that it helped depolarize voters on so many animated discussions on surveys. All this communal lines. As many as 38 percent of all SP enabled her to have a proactive campaign from candidates were with criminal background, the very outset. Mayawati seems to have realized according UP Election Watch. In the final phase, early enough the folly of getting into the riddles 58 percent of SP candidates had such a back- of news media, their weightage and priorities. ground against 32 percent of BSP candidates. In She understood the concerns of voters better, fact, no party in this UP poll could keep away irrespective of their community. While BJP, SP from those having a criminal background. and Congress were caught in one or more A couple of those candidates did their campaign controversies of their own making during the from jail - including making threatening calls. A campaign, BSP was too busy in voter mobilization prominent SP candidate used cell phone from a work. jail in the neighboring State to address public Of about Rs.700crores spent (as per CMS meetings in the constituency - (and he has won!). estimate) by political parties and their candidates UP Election Watch brought out before every Transparency Review 3 round of the poll "criminal background of Nevertheless, in the ultimate analysis, if every candidates". "Vulnerability mapping" and the party follows the course taken by BSP in this UP constituency-specific measures taken by the polls, the electoral process in India would be far Election Commission to minimize voter intimida- more dispassionate and democratic. The elections tion and proxy voting have helped in ensuring would be much less caste and communal based relatively violence-free election despite the and much less money-power driven and more longest ever poll battle.