online meeting on the Civil Society Organisations' campaign in the Karnataka state poll was quite informative and enriching.
Here's the gist of the presentation on the campaign made by Yousuf Kanni -- a major speaker:
1. Constituency wise analysis of voting in the last three polls.
2. Identification of the marginal seats and concentrating on these
3. Concentrating on campaigns among minorities and Dalits.
4. Deployment of whole-time workers and their training.
5. Preparation of Report Cards and transmission.
6. To fight on our chosen terrain and not on the terrain chosen by them.
7. To be in touch with the minorities so that they don't react to provocations.
8. Enrolment of deleted and also new voters.
9. Contacting smaller parties to avoid anti-BJP vote splitting.
(Disclaimer: A few minor points might have been inadvertently missed out.)
While trying to factor in this valuable input in relation to the coming parliamentary poll, one'll have to, obviously, keep in mind the crucial distinction between a state poll and a national one.
In this context, in the last West Bengal state poll too, the civil society organisations plus a few smaller political outfits -- the CPI(ML) Liberation being by far the largest one -- mostly, though not exclusively, from under the banner of "No Vote to BJP" had played a very significant role. Postering, leafleting, small meetings etc. were organised all over the state. Also spirited campaigns in the social media. A beautiful video, not from under any banner, figuring quite a few well-known, and even legendary, faces in the entertainment industry captioned "Aami Anya Kothao Jaabo Naa" (Won't go anywhere else -- an obvious reference to the monstrous threat of the NRC) became viral.
However, one has to keep in mind that such ventures can, at most, work as force multipliers. Help to (only) amplify the thrusts of the major anti-BJP player(s). Nothing more than that.
But, this boost, at times, may turn out to be even the game-changer.
So...
Shared by SG:
These are the report cards from BAhutva Karnataka -
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Some articles pertinent to karnataka elections above - including role of civil society
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Campaign against hate speech - https://hatespeechbeda.wordpress.com/
S Sen:
summarised only Yousuf Kanni -- virtually the first "speaker" -- in real-time.
Anant Phadke: Good summary of the points made. Only two small additions needed - About 5000 volunteers worked in this campaign. Second;y. systematic tracking of hate speeches was done by volunteers followed by making complaint to the Election Commission. Out of 7complaints, one complaint resulted in lodging of an FRI against a BJP candidate. This tracking cutailed hate-speeches to a certain extent acting some kind a detereant.