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Television
cuts channels into Kerala politics
Arun
Kochi, April
27: Today's politicians, at least those in God’s Own Country,
stand exposed because of the healthy competition between private
TV channels in covering or uncovering political events.
With elections
round the corner, the channels have gone into overdrive and now
everyone is looking at whether the channels have it in them to sufficiently
alter public opinion.
This is the
first Assembly elections in Kerala after private channels arrived
in a big way. Back in 1996, only Asianet and Doordarshan were there
on the scene—or screen. Now, Surya and Kairali have joined
the race.
Many see Kairali
TV as a huge advantage for the CPI(M). The party is banking on the
channel to put its views across ‘‘without adulteration’’.
But can the channels influence voters in a big way?
‘‘People
who can’t think for themselves will be swayed by the election
coverage of TV channels. It is the middle class and the classes
above that get to watch TV and so, I don’t think the channels
will be have a substantial effect on the electoral result,’’
Guptan Nair said.
Newspapers,
in fact, have an edge over the electronic media, he said. ‘‘Newspapers
influence voters more than TV. For the simple reason, that it reaches
more people.’’
Asianet, Kairali,
Surya and Doordarshan are all flooding viewers with election news,
related features and nuggets. One channel has even come up with
an imaginative poll quiz. Special bulletins are the order of the
day and as for talk shows, nothing else seems to be discussed now.
Many of the
regular non-news programmes too have a liberal dose of election-related
material. Kairali TV has started making use of comedy stars to poke
fun at Karunakaran and Antony, a clear instance of poll campaigns
being run from TV studios.
The impact
of visuals is huge and political parties know this. Candidates now
have to do the right things and be seen doing them right. Earlier,
Nayanar and Karunakaran could get away by flip-flopping with their
statements; now things have become far more difficult. Factional
feuds are being brought into drawing rooms.
‘‘The
extensive coverage of elections by the electronic media will certainly
help in the political education of voters. It will create more awareness
among people about candidates and the programmes of parties. But
all this will have a marginal effect on the results. Women, with
most of them having little political education, may be influenced
more,’’ Dr N.A. Karim said.
According to
Karim, the CPI(M) will start with a definite advantage. ‘‘Kairali
TV will help the party hugely in the run-up to the polls. It is
an asset, more so when it comes to electoral politics.’’
The advent of TV channels would help the LDF, says Desabhimani,
the CPI(M) mouthpiece. ‘‘The problems within the Congress
and the UDF were being suppressed by a vast section of the print
media. But now, it is out in the open, thanks to TV channels. Viewers
now get to see the truth,’’ the
paper says.
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