Election Tamasha: India's Politics Turns Professional
The professionalization of politics in India is a global phenomenon, with Indian consultants in high demand and cutting-edge technologies like deepfakes and AI-generated content being used extensively in election campaigns, while local issues like incomplete drainage work in Pune highlight the need for effective governance and civic management.
India's election campaigns have undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, driven by the increasing reliance on political consulting firms, tech-savvy volunteers, and data-driven insights, marking a shift towards professionalization of politics.
According to Scholar Amogh Dhar Sharma's book, "The Backstage of Democracy: India's Election Campaigns and the People Who Manage Them," this transformation has opened up opportunities for the middle class to enter politics, with party advisors now being chosen based on their expertise rather than party loyalty. Sharma argues that the professionalization of politics is a global industry with a center of gravity shifting to the Global South, with Indian political consultants being sought after for their expertise globally.
Meanwhile, in Pune, residents of Wanowrie are facing a different kind of tamasha, with incomplete drainage work at Samvidhan Chowk and Jagtap Chowk causing traffic congestion and safety hazards. The project, which has been stalled for over 10 days, has left large portions of the road dug up and inadequately barricaded, raising concerns about accidents during the upcoming monsoon season.
As India's politics becomes increasingly professionalized, it remains to be seen how this shift will impact the country's democratic processes and civic governance, including the resolution of local issues like the drainage work in Wanowrie, which requires immediate attention from senior officials to ensure better governance and safety for residents.