Amidst ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the political landscape in India has been black-spotted by the massive influx of conspiracy theories and baseless fearmongering propagated by the opposition parties alliance. They are seemingly desperate to sway public opinion by hook or crook and have restored to tactics that are not only undemocratic but also pose a threat to social stability.
Electronic Voting Machines of EVMs have always been their target despite a clear mandate in favour of EVMs in the Supreme Court. At the beginning of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, opposition parties were somewhat uninterested in blaming EVMs for their possible loss for the third time in a row in the General Elections. However, as the fourth phase of polling was over, it was evident that the target that the Bharatiya Janata Party had set for the ongoing elections would become a reality.
It was more than enough for the opposition parties to jump and grab the resting conspiracy of electoral fraud via EVMs and now they are openly blaming the Election Commission of India for being biased towards the ruling party. They have spun a web of conspiracy theories aimed at discrediting the electoral process. The narrative is clear. Make the voters believe that there is something wrong. Sow the seeds of doubt in the mind and create panic. To achieve their aim, they are throwing videos, statements and messages on social media to manipulate voters into believing that the Election Process in the country is a sham.
The opposition parties and darbaris in media came up with a well-vested plan to target the Election Commission that they are absolute numbers of votes cast to rig the election. Even if technology is super advanced, it is not easy to compile the data from lakhs of polling booths and publish it on the website. The percentage was already published by the Election Commission via its voter turnout app and press release. But these numbers come with a disclaimer that they were not the final numbers.
The final counting is done by compiling the data of every booth that comes after the last voter has used his or her right to vote. The information is provided to the Election Commission as well as the polling agents of all parties via Form 17C at every polling booth. The Election Commission verifies and examines the data over time to ensure there are no discrepancies that may confuse the minds of the voters. Thus it takes time.
Commission releases absolute number of voters for all completed phases of General Elections 2024
— Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) May 25, 2024
Details :https://t.co/z0QVHGM41Z
However, the opposition parties and their media liaisons created an atmosphere of fearmongering by claiming that the absolute numbers were not being published as the EC wanted to rig the elections in favour of the BJP. It was designed to create a sense of urgency and panic among the electorate. The Election Commission published the absolute data on 25th May which was celebrated by them as if they pressured the EC to publish it. In reality, it was bound to happen in time.
Let’s take an example. You go to a restaurant and order food. After one minute, you start shouting where is your food and claim it was being delayed. The restaurant owner tells you that it will take 20 minutes which is the stipulated time but you keep screaming your lungs out that there is a conspiracy to delay your food. The food eventually comes within 20 minutes and you claim victory by saying that it was your pressure that made the restaurant serve you food that “quickly”. This is exactly what has been happening in the country.
The psychological impact on voters
Such illicit tactics have profound psychological effects on voters. Constant exposure to fearmongering via conspiracy theories leads to heightened anxiety and a pervasive sense of insecurity. When voters are repeatedly told that their vote might go to waste as EC is biased or that the country is on the brink of authoritarianism, it can lead to disillusionment and apathy.
The trust in the democratic institutions gets eroded leading to lower voter turnout. It also fosters an atmosphere of cynicism where citizens feel powerless and prefer not to engage in the political process. It has long-lasting effects on the health of democracy as it undermines the very foundation of informed and active citizen participation.
Foreign interference and vested interests
What is even more alarming is that the opposition parties are getting support from various foreign groups, organizations, NGOs, and media outlets with vested interests. Billionaire George Soros openly admitted to investing over a billion dollars to fuel anti-Modi sentiments. Media outlets including Bloomberg, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Al Jazeera and many others have contributed to the narrative. These entities, often with dubious motives, have amplified the conspiracy theories and fearmongering narratives.
For example, several international media outlets ran stories that echoed the baseless claims painting a picture of India teetering on the edge of authoritarianism. The claims these entities made were without substantial evidence. They either used outdated data or selective reporting to fuel the narrative.
Social media influencers like Dhruv Rathee, who has been promoted extensively by the opposition parties, also played a role in amplifying the false narrative of dictatorship. It is funny that they call PM Modi a dictator but keep mum when opposition parties indulge in dictatorship and arrest right-wing social media influencers just because they dared to speak.
Interestingly, the same opposition parties and social media influencers screaming foul play when several of their fellows were arrested for sharing edited videos of Home Minister Amit Shah. In the edited video, it was projected as if Shah said the BJP would end reservations. Such edited videos have the potential to have a deep impact on the electoral process and immediate action was necessary to stop its spread, which the Home Ministry took.
Fearmongering in action
The fearmongering tactics employed by the opposition parties are not limited to abstract conspiracy theories. They have played on the fears of specific communities. For example, the fear installed in the minds of minority communities that the ruling party will suppress their voices forever or if PM Modi comes back to power, elections will never happen again, have long-lasting effects. This kind of rhetoric is not only irresponsible but also dangerous, as it has the potential to incite communal tensions.
Similarly, the alliance has claimed that under PM Modi’s leadership, unemployment and poverty increased though the evidence goes against the rhetoric. Several schemes like Jan Dhan Accounts, Direct Benefit Transfer, Free Ration, Mudra Yojna, Ujjwala Yojna, Awas Yojna and others have brought millions out of poverty in the last decade. By painting a picture of impending economic doom, they hope to galvanize voters against the ruling party, regardless of the factual inaccuracies in their statements.
The responsibility of political parties
In a vibrant democracy like India, it is the responsibility of the political parties to engage in a constructive debate and present viable alternatives to the electorate. However, the opposition parties chose the strategy of fearmongering and spreading conspiracy theories. It is a clear betrayal of the fundamental democratic principle. Instead of fostering informed decision-making, they deliberately misled voters, creating unnecessary panic, and undermining the very foundations of democracy.
Ideally and ethically, political discourse should be based on facts and policies and not on unfounded fears and divisive rhetoric. The actions that opposition parties and their foreign allies took threaten to derail the democratic process and sow discord among the electorate.
