“Beware of Yamaraj (God of Death) and Mayajaal (Illusion), just choose BJP” goes the BJP’s radio spot entitled Saavdhaawhich has just gone on the air as part of its campaign all over UP.
Filled with references to the Nithari killings, price rise, and corruption, the spot is chief weapon in the BJP’s arsenal against Samajwadi Party chief Mulyam Singh Yadav and BSP leader Mayawati.
The voice of actor Mukesh Khanna who played Bhishmapithama of Mahabharat tele-serial fame booms amid war music. The allusion to Mulyam Singh Yadav and Mayawati is unmistable. The spot portrays BJP’s Chief Minister candidate Kalyan Singh as the best choice before the voters.
Radio has replaced even television and newspaper as the prime advertising medium for the BJP’s campaign because the party’s surveys say the medium covers 90 per cent of the population. Television covers 60 per cent while 32 per cent do not read any newspaper.
"The radio is a powerful weapon and we are relying on it,” said senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu as he played the radio spots for the media here on Tuesday.
Naidu, who is chairman of BJP’s campaign committee for UP, said Kalyan hi Sankalp, BJP hi Vikalp (Kalyan is the choice and BJP is the alternative) was the running theme in all campaign advertisements.
{{/usCountry}}Naidu, who is chairman of BJP’s campaign committee for UP, said Kalyan hi Sankalp, BJP hi Vikalp (Kalyan is the choice and BJP is the alternative) was the running theme in all campaign advertisements.
{{/usCountry}}Contrary to the impression that the BJP was relying on the Ram temple issue, Naidu said, the party is focusing on “five evils” that have characterized five years of Mulayam’s rule. "They are criminalisation, corruption, communalism, casteism and the rising cost of living.”
The party is also talking about “bijliee sadak paani (power, roads and water) and “sinchayi, shiksha, swastha, swarozgar, suraksha and samajik nyay" (irrigation, education, health, self-employment, security and social justice.
The BJP leader said the party was also harping on the administrative ability shown by Kalyan Singh as Chief Minister more than 14 years ago, particularly his hard drive against mafia groups in the state.
Artistes have been enrolled by the party to stage skits on mobile stages – five of which have been hired in the state.