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BJP'S NEW WINNING MANTRA
WHO'S BEHIND THE MODI-MASK?
By M H Ahsan
AHMEDABAD: Who is the man behind the Modi-mask? While even Chief Minister Narendra Modi chose not to disclose this master-innovator whose idea saw an unprecedented connect between the masses and Modi, a virtual SMS war has broken out over who should not get undue credit for one of the most well-planned marketing strategies that did wonders for transporting Modi on almost every street of Gujarat!
"Victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan," says an SMS sent by Vande Gujarat, the electronic propaganda machine that Modi and BJP launched before the Assembly elections.
"We denounce efforts of certain individuals usurping credit for Gujarat campaign and Modi-mask to emerge as singular personifications by misinforming media," the message added.
The message was hinting at film maker Manish Baradia and others who have been given credit so far for producing the prototypes of the mask which after due approval were sent for mass-manufacturing in China.
Highly placed sources however concede that the idea of making Modi-masks and distributing it so that Modi replicas can be seen all over the state creating the illusion of omnipresence for Modi was that of Modi himself!
In an interview to Hyderabad News , Modi, had said that the innovative campaign of Modi-masks was a part of a well thought out plan of one person. "That I can’t tell you now. But the mask did bring about a connect between me and the masses. When I was attacked, they felt the pain," the chief minister said, refusing to reveal that person.
Meanwhile, even as the real man behind the mask chooses not be unmasked, citizens have started reacting to the mask-mania. "Modi-mask is not the original idea of one person. I have got masks of Advani and Vajpayee that were distributed to participants of the plenary session of BJP held way back in 1995,"Praful Desai, a retired lawyer who has kept a sample, told HNN.
Analysts however concede that though political masks have been around for years, the Modi-mask was noticed for its widespread marketing and supporter response. So will the real mask-maker stand up please?
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