There is a lot of contempt around RAGA's conversations with RRR/Abhijit Banerji
I see it differently - the Indian Left is good at getting its POV heard in influential circles
BJP sucks at this. How about a conversation b/w a top BJP leader and say Jagdish Bhagwati / Panagariya?
I see it differently - the Indian Left is good at getting its POV heard in influential circles
BJP sucks at this. How about a conversation b/w a top BJP leader and say Jagdish Bhagwati / Panagariya?
Even when the BJP manages to rope in someone high profile. E.g Arvind Subramanian who was roped in by Jaitley, they are not able to sustain the relationship
Something seems to go wrong always
So an intellectual ecosystem favorable to the party's view never really develops
Something seems to go wrong always
So an intellectual ecosystem favorable to the party's view never really develops
Many on the Right are often angry at the poor coverage of their govt on NYT / WSJ.
My point is - what sort of a network do you have ?
Does NYT India desk even know what is the BJP's position on several things? Do you give enough interviews?
My point is - what sort of a network do you have ?
Does NYT India desk even know what is the BJP's position on several things? Do you give enough interviews?
Even the NRI supporters of BJP are not that good at penetrating the "system". Be it the various thinktanks, media houses.
They form an echo-chamber in their numerous "indic" clubs. Read by no one except their twitter followers
They form an echo-chamber in their numerous "indic" clubs. Read by no one except their twitter followers
Maybe the one major exception to this I can think of is
@swapan55
A case in point are his fine lectures on Indian conservatism at Tagore Center in London 4-5 years back
That kind of a comprehensive articulation on a topic is hard to find with the Indian Right
@swapan55
A case in point are his fine lectures on Indian conservatism at Tagore Center in London 4-5 years back
That kind of a comprehensive articulation on a topic is hard to find with the Indian Right
One point that came about in an offline discussion with @akshayalladi (from him) -
The BJP is frankly not interested in debate around most aspects of governance, economic policy
There is an air of indifference
Hence no debate. No stance-taking
The BJP is frankly not interested in debate around most aspects of governance, economic policy
There is an air of indifference
Hence no debate. No stance-taking
The party is mostly animated by social issues. Hence we see a very clear policy w.r.t. Art 370 etc
But a similar animation does not exist w.r.t. economy or governance in general
But a similar animation does not exist w.r.t. economy or governance in general
@akshayalladi made the point that in one sense, Sonia is a more consequential leader, as she changed the climate of opinion on reforms and econ policy
A clear break from the pre-2004 consensus
Modi era in contrast has not marked a break from the immediate past in a radical way
A clear break from the pre-2004 consensus
Modi era in contrast has not marked a break from the immediate past in a radical way
So two issues -
1. Poor networking/articulation
2. Lack of engagement on several issues
3rd issue involves a certain contempt for those traditional centers of influence
A view that you dont have to reach out
Best summed up by Modi's quip:
"Hard work matters more than Harvard"
1. Poor networking/articulation
2. Lack of engagement on several issues
3rd issue involves a certain contempt for those traditional centers of influence
A view that you dont have to reach out
Best summed up by Modi's quip:
"Hard work matters more than Harvard"
