Biharis made them Budibak

Biharis made them Budibak

Everyone was made Budibak. Modi, Media & Mind Readers all were proved Budibak. How could they under-estimate Bihari Intelligence, that too from a Land that gave Gyan to even Lord Buddha.

Their predictions were as random as the Bihari they surveyed. Did they really speak to the guy riding a buffalo while listening to Bhojpuri Gaana or the number crunching was done in AC rooms in Delhi? Even Chanakya had to apologize for horrible predictions, so did Pranab Roy of NDTV. Did they misjudge Strategies or Tactics?

While their Focus was totally on the Cow, Dead or Alive, they forgot that different parts of India look at the same cow differently. While a Haryanvi loves the Milk, a Punjabi makes Lassi, Bihari carries Dahi in Gunny Sacks, a Marwadi bottles Desi Ghee, UPwala boils to Khova and a Bong splits it to Chhena. So the Makkhan loving Gujarati forgot that even Lord Krishna was chased away by Jarasandh, the king of Magadh.

Strategy depends on Tactics

Generals believe that wars are won by excellent strategies, but every warrior knows that it’s the Tactics that make or break strategies. Strategies look nice on paper, but once the soldier comes face to face, its execution that matters. How could Modi forget this point that worked so well in LS elections, when “Bharat Nirman” flopped, in spite of thousands of crores spent by the party in power?

Promises work only when people believe them

This was repeated, in reverse, by a Haryanvi snatching away Delhi, in spite of Govt. Might & Media Masala. The people this time believed Arvind Kajriwal, regardless of what was promised by the Prime Minister.

Looks like all the “Plans” hatched by Teja’s henchmen, flopped in taming Bihari “Paplu-Taplu”. The Vasco-de-Gama ki Gun too didn’t fire.

Misunderstanding Bihari Psyche

“Plan hi Galat Tha”. Progress means different things to different people. While Guajarati are known to adopt the world culture and progress to them means more Dhandha. The Bihari loves his Traditions and Jaat more than anything else in this world. They live a similar lifestyle, regardless of where they are.

While both love their culture, it is different. It’s alright in Gujarat to mingle with people of different castes as long as they are from same class (cash). In Bihar the mingling happens totally caste wise, class is mostly ignored.

So when Modi goes and promises Money & Material, the Bihari wants to know which Caste will get how much. The focus is always on how much share (not cash) is given to people of his Caste. You may call it backwardness, but that’s how priorities get decided. Tradition followed by their caste is sacrosanct. In north India the love for their tradition increases as ganga flows, increasing from Haridwar, highest near Kolkotta.

They didn’t believe a Gujarati to do justice to their way of Progress, which Lalu utilized to the Hilt.

Promises looked False

It was a Complete Branding Blunder by Modi & co. He should have competed with Vikas Purush Nitish on just that, Vikas. When he had already won the Vikas fight in LS Elections, why did he switch over to his Jaat. Why didn’t his brand managers correct him, or did he see the Dalits deserting Manjhi & moving to Lalu?

Once he switched over to Jaat, his own lack of confidence in brand Vikas got dented. People believed track record of Nitish to provide Vikas and promises of Modi, seemed yet another Jhoomla.

That is where Lalu, the epitome of Jaat Politics, got an upper hand. With People believing him to be true to his Brand, they trusted whatever he said. He too was careful not to touch Brand Vikas by insisting on Nitish as CM.

Chokarings

That is how Buffalos in Purvanchal talk to everyone. Everyone there understands what a buffalo is trying to say “Kahe Chokarat Ba”.  

Every mass communicator understands that you need to grab the brain, before putting sense into it. Modi failed to grab the brains of Biharis, who understand what even a buffalo tries to say. You can’t beat Lalu, that too in Bihar, to attract attention of the masses. While Modi had large Rallies, Lalu had 250 small ones, discussing Local Issues in a lingo that even Buffalos there understood. And Trusted.

Modi’s Rallies focused more on Cows (both Dead & Alive) in a land where Buffalos are preferred. The Curds of Cow’s milk is not as thick and can’t be carried in Gunny Sacks. Like a Professional DJ, he went on raising Financial Package prompting the crowd, 50,000 Karoon, 60,000 Karoon… Poore 1.25 Lakh Karod Diya !  “Bhaowkaal ba”.  No one trusted the funds to come. “Gaana hi bekaar hai, Volume kahe badha rahe ho”.

Besuri Qawwali

Brand managers insist that everyone in an organization follows symmetry else the message gets diluted. While Bihari Brothers struck to their specialties, team Modi didn’t clap in tandem. Everyone was singing different song, some on Cows, few on its dead body, some on reservation and others on development. BJP invited Upper Caste, while Manjhi called the Mahadalits, to the same venue. No one was happy.

Both Bade Miyan & Chote Miyan stuck to their roles, while Rahul’s crooning was completely ignored. That made Biharis believe to get their Way of Vikas, caste-wise.

Follow Traditions

Promises are useless if people don’t believe you. Winning Trust is paramount to winning hearts. People from different regions use different formula to check the trustworthiness.  

While Delhi trusts Known contacts only, Mumbaikar goes on face value. Chennai depends on well established brands, Bengaluru seeks Latest Version. Marwadis hate Showoffs, Punjabis love them. Gujjus make quick decisions, while Bongs take their own time. Punjabis & Telugus prefer settling Abroad, Eastern Indians always have one leg in their native place.

An organization based in Delhi, should understand Bengalureans and their point of view of using cutting edge technology. Mumbaikar should expect a Hyderabadi to take an hour when he says 20 minutes; also verify his change of plan from time to time. Don’t go on Tamilian attire, he has better priorities.

Bihari Gyan

Brand Modi got eroded, thanks due to bad co-ordination & failure to understand what Biharis want. Here are a few points every political party needs to learn:

·         Understand the Psyche.  Allow local leaders to lead or at least take their suggestions seriously

·         Stop In fighting.  Follow Political Currency formula to reduce power grabbing disputes

·         Put the Best foot forward.  Put Recognized, Acceptable & Credible Faces forward

·         Don’t be a Teja.  Don’t depend on Loyal people, let Performers drive  the campaign

·         Maintain Brand Image. It’s alright to change course mid-way but stick to your core competency

So it’s a combination of Understanding the Psyche & selecting Disciplined Performers is what is needed to win Elections. Every organization should have leaders who can do both.

Disclaimer: I have been an Active Karyakarta of AAP Bengaluru for past 2 years. The Views mentioned above are my personal and should be treated so. More about me at www.nashwall.com/About-Us.html