EP 183 - ‘Brand Modi’, Legacy Media, ‘Lutyens Gang’, Election Humour ft. Suhel Seth & Advaita Kala

Elections are currently underway in India, the world's largest democracy. However, as the voting progresses, there's a noticeable shift in political discourse. The focus has moved away from core issues towards topics like identity, caste reservation, and the constitution. But why are political parties deviating? What lies beneath this shift? We'll delve into these questions to uncover the truth.

Joining the podcast are Suhel Seth and Advaita Kala. Suhel Seth is a brand guru, author, and columnist. Advaita Kala is an author, columnist, and screenwriter, best known for her work on the critically acclaimed film 'Kahaani.'

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Suhel Seth and Advaita Kala discuss the election narrative for the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. They delve into legacy media's coverage of the elections, with Kala claiming that there is a general level of distrust towards mainstream media. She also suggests that social media platforms may be controlling the narrative through their extensive systems. The conversation also touches on PM Narendra Modi, his farsightedness, and his immense popularity among the masses, with Seth claiming that 'brand Modi' is more popular than that of RSS and BJP combined. Tune in for an episode filled with jibes, sarcasm, and satire.

(0:00) Intro1:47Summer Elections

(2:42) Seth's Jibe at Kala

(5:20) Legacy Media's Election Coverage

(6:45) Indian Electorate

(10:30) Brand Modi15:30Toothless Election Commission?

(17:44) Hindu Identity Politics

(26:20) Laws Have Exonerated Modi

(29:20) 1984 Sikh 'Genocide'

(30:50) Congress Controlled Media?

(32:45) Lutyens' Gang'34:50:00Distrust in Legacy Media

(39:14) Hate Economy is Thriving

(43:40) Seth's Meeting with Modi

(45:10) Sensational' Campaigns

(48:00) Western Media's Agenda

(51:35) Primetime Debates

(54:10) Indian Political Discourse

(1:00:12) Tech Platforms Controlling Narrative?

(1:02:30) Politics Affecting Relationships?

(1:04:14) Swati Maliwal Row

(1:06:00) The AAP Campaign

(1:10:40) AAP's Punjab Connection

(1:13:16) Election Reforms?

(1:15:20) Digital Activism

(1:17:17) The Labharthi Factor