As India gears up for the upcoming general elections, the political battleground witnesses a stark dichotomy between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party, each vying for the attention of the electorate through distinctly different approaches.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP is embarking on a revolutionary transformation in its communication strategy by incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This innovative approach seeks to transcend linguistic barriers and engage the diverse youth across India’s linguistic landscape.
Utilising advanced AI algorithms, the BJP plans to translate Modi’s speeches into several regional languages, including Bangla, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Marathi, Odia, and Malayalam. By doing so, the party aims to democratise access to political discourse, emphasising inclusivity and outreach across linguistic boundaries.
Vijay Bahadur Pathak, BJP vice-president and lawmaker, voiced the party’s rationale behind this technological leap, stating, “AI is a new advent, and the Prime Minister used this technology in Varanasi to convey his feelings to our Tamil-speaking friends. If we have technology, why should we not use it? Politics is the game of giving messages. What is wrong if we use technology to spread our viewpoints?”
The successful demonstration of AI-powered translation during a recent event in Varanasi, where Modi’s Hindi speech seamlessly translated into Tamil in real-time, underscores the party’s forward-thinking approach to communication and engagement.
In stark contrast, the Congress party’s strategy appears less defined, persisting in its advocacy for a caste census. Departing from the BJP’s emphasis on technological advancements, Congress champions the idea of a comprehensive census based on caste divisions, with the aim of addressing social disparities and ensuring equitable representation for marginalised communities.
“If Congress comes to power we will allow caste census,” Rahul Gandhi thundered during his Naya Yatra as it traversed through Uttar Pradesh.
Defending Congress strategy party’s spokesman DP Singh says the BJP’s election campaign and use of AI is nothing but a gimmick. “Instead of talking about core issues like employment, health issues and caste, the BJP is raising issues which have more of glitz and gizmo involved in it,” he said and added, “Tell me, how many people in rural India know about AI. These people are suffering and our leader Rahul Gandhi has raised their pain on different platforms.”
Nomita P Kumar of Giri Institute of Development Studies in Lucknow commented on the Congress’s approach, highlighting the party’s failure to grasp the significance of technology among the youth. Kumar remarked, “This is the problem with the Congress. It has failed to read the ground reality.
“The new millennia generation talks about technology and understands that better. The party which talks about it becomes the darling of the youth.”
The Congress’s advocacy for a caste census stems from its recognition of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) as a crucial political constituency in India. The party perceives this initiative as a strategic move to gain political leverage, particularly in terms of chief ministerial appointments and power dynamics.
While the BJP prioritises technological innovation and AI integration, Congress underscores the importance of comprehensive data collection to inform policymaking and address social disparities.
As the political landscape evolves, the clash of ideologies between the BJP and Congress sets the stage for a dynamic electoral discourse. The BJP’s focus on technological advancement and the Congress party’s emphasis on social data collection emerge as pivotal issues shaping the political narrative leading up to the elections.
The forthcoming elections represent a critical juncture in Indian politics, where contrasting approaches of the BJP and the Congress underscore the multifaceted nature of electoral dynamics. These divergent strategies will define the choices of voters and shape the future trajectory of Indian governance.
