The Foreign Press On The Indian Elections

Aparna Alluri 

The world is watching as India goes to the polls, even as the country’s political parties and pundits continue to unleash a bewildering mix of news, rhetoric and rumor. The foreign press too is not just keeping up, but probing deeper. The result is a variety of stories that range from commentary and analysis, to reporting on the ground.

We bring you a weekly roundup of the best stories on India in the international press, chosen from several foreign (including our neighbors’) newspapers, magazines, websites and blogs. Let us know what you think of our suggestions!

The Express Tribune, from Pakistan, expresses sympathy for L.K. Advani in an Op-ed that accuses the BJP and the RSS of “shortchanging” Advani “more than once”. Seema Mustafa writes that as humiliated and hurt as Advani might feel, it’s too early to say if he’s truly on his way out because, “post-poll in India is now as important as the poll itself.”

The Guardian’s Matt Birkinshaw argues persuasively that water is a decisive factor in the upcoming elections. He writes about drinking water in urban areas and the layered politics surrounding its management and supply. The “activist” politics of the AAP, Birkinshaw says, will upset the corrupt “arrangements” skewing basic services like water supply. Of course, his argument largely applies to urban India. But he does remind us that too many Indians will not be thinking of a faltering economy or stagnant GDP when they vote. They have more immediate concerns.

We recommend two stories from Foreign Policy. First, Uzra Khan’s compelling piece on Narendra Modi’s touchy relationship with the media. Modi is a polarizing figure who has rarely been interviewed but, Khan alleges, major Indian media organizations are swinging right in Modi’s favor, often bowing to pressure from above. Second, Sriram Balasubramaniam examines the role of youth in India’s elections – as of 2011, 70 percent of the country’s population was under 35. That’s especially young in a country that has so many doddering politicians. Balasubramaniam sees this demographic as both an opportunity and a game changer in the long run.

Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror is confident that the Congress has “outlived its use” and Ameen Izzadeen explains why in this detailed Op-ed about the Congress’ diminishing fortunes amid a rapidly changing electoral scene. He makes no easy predictions but provides a careful snapshot of what’s going on with each of the big players.

The Financial Times gives us a “gentle reminder of just how much money will go into this year’s election” with its scrutiny of advertisements by political parties. What’s telling but not surprising is that print media is the biggest winner in this particular race.

Aparna Alluri is a freelance reporter, finishing up a graduate degree at Columbia University. For now, she is tinkering with words and sound, and she is always plotting where to travel next. Follow her @aparnalluri

Courtesy : The 545