Political Brands

With elections fast approaching, I felt it would be appropriate for me to dwell upon the Political Saga and the marketing efforts that emphasise on branding the behemoths of politics. It is pretty ironic that every party that contests polls badmouths the opposition and vice-versa, and at the end of the day everyone makes the same promises in order for them to de-throne the opposition and gain the prestigious political chair. Let’s just have a look at the candidates who pose as favourites contesting for the prime minister’s post and their personification as the ‘Political Brands’ of India.

• Advani: Lalchand Kishenchand Advani who for 55 years served as a deputy to A. B. Vajpayee and the Bharatiya Samajwadi Party, is known to be the most tech-savvy politician, (as described by The Hive Advertising agency working on BJP’s campaigning) that there is in Indian political history considering the fact that he uses all the latest technological devices from mobile phones to lap tops, thereby is said to be the 'prime minister for the youth' since he closely relates to the younger generation. He, like Obama sees youth as his favourite target segment in the market of voters and hence promises the world to them.
• Mr. Singh: Initially considered the puppet of Sonia Gandhi, Dr. Manmohan Singh, was rated as one of the best Finance Ministers that Indian politics has ever produced. However, it would take even more doing from him to make it to one among the best Prime Ministers of our nation, albeit he has come a long way in erasing the tag as Sonia’s puppet. His last brave act in signing the N-Deal lead the country into praising the ’Singh as King’, where his going against the Left party was appreciated by many as against some who were cynical about the whole N-deal fiasco.

Time can only judge as to which one of these brands will be successful with the other grumbling over wasteful efforts that went into creating a brand that lost.