Ramesh Bidhuri, BJP’s candidate from the Kalkaji constituency in Delhi, has done great harm to the party’s electoral prospects with his comment on roads being made as smooth as Priyanka’s cheeks. It may have been a satirical take on a similar comment made years ago by Lalu Yadav about Hema Malini, but it unnecessary and coarse. Earlier, too, he has had his remarks expunged when he was a member of parliament for being ‘communal’, ‘abusive’ and ‘misogynistic’. He does not seem to have learned a lesson, nor has the BJP succeeded in reining him in. It is even possible that he may get elected because his constituents have priorities other than gentlemanly behaviour. However, his party’s chances of winning the coming election will have been greatly jeopardised. Also, he has handed Priyanka Vadra a card that she will continue to play against the BJP for years to come.
Afraid that Bidhuri may have generated a sympathy wave for the Congress, Delhi CM Atishi has also shed tears because her aged father has also been targeted by the BJP candidate. This is all the more ammunition against the BJP, which has been otherwise upbeat about its prospects following the allegations of corruption against AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
In an age when there is live coverage of almost all political activity, politicians need to be very careful about what they say and do. This is especially so in the case of those in power, as their accountability is greater. What may pass muster in a private conversation or in a specific social environment becomes unacceptable when viewed by a larger audience. As such, political correctness has to be practiced from the beginning of one’s public career. Those without the privilege of getting repeated opportunities because of wealth, social standing or family background will not get any second chances.
This does not mean, of course, that crudely articulated truth should be overlooked. It has its place at the right place and the right moment, but politics, more than ever today, needs to be raised to a higher level. It should not be hard when there are so many exponents of hard-hitting speeches to learn from. It is to be hoped that the BJP, which is more representative in terms of social backgrounds, will give greater attention to training its cadres in getting its message across without scoring self-goals.
