The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) seems to follow the ancient concepts when India was known as the ‘land of Magicians and Snakes’. The national party has roped in magicians who will be a part of campaigning besides ongoing Nukkad Nataks (street plays) and light Emitting Diode (lED) Vehicles presenting PM Modi’s vision and party’s agendas.
Around 12 to 20 magicians have been hired from Jharkhand as well as Haryana and Maharashtra in order to attract voters at the grassroot level, sources told The Pioneer. “A group of three magicians will be performing magic on BJP’s agenda and Modi’s objectives for the state in every constituency during the Haat (weekly vegetable market). If everything goes as per the plan, we are hopeful to begin the magicians’ performance from November 14 onwards. It will start from the constituencies where the polls are scheduled on November 25. Accordingly, it will be carried out in remaining four constituencies where polls are scheduled on December 2, 9, 14 and 20,” said a party insider.
The theme of magician’s performance is yet to be finalized. “It will probably show a basket where the picture of PM Modi suddenly comes out in a scripted situation demanding a strong leader for solving mass problems. We want the magicians to woo voters through their own ideas,” he added.
Meanwhile, stating the rationale behind adopting such concept, party spokesperson Kamaal Khan said, “BJP achieved success in the recent held Assembly elections at Haryana and Maharashtra. We thought of adopting strategies which may help us to gain success in Jharkhand as well. Hired magicians will probably be a part of the artists of Nukkad Natak.”
Similar to the Nukkad Natak artists, the magicians will also be dressed in saffron coloured t-shirt or kurta with white dhoti or pajama printed with Modi’s face.
Some of the outstationed magicians who failed to have a deal with the party for the campaigning were seen at party’s office on Thursday. Asked on why they do not patch up with BJP they said that it all depends on their mood. “We hail from Maharashtra and have been performing magic shows at West Bengal. Jharkhand is a new working place. We will agree only if our basic needs are fulfilled by the party people,” a young magician said.
Notably, the first phase of polls are to be held at 13 constituencies including Chatra, Bhawanathpur, Bishrampur, Hussainabad, Chhatarpur, Manika, Garhwa, Daltonganj, Bishunpur, lohardaga, Gumla, Panki and latehar.
BJP representatives headed by state election co-incharge Bhupendra Yadav have been visiting booths across the state for past three or four months to understand the perspective of the voters.
“Many party representatives from Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand are working at the administrative units of Santhal-Pargana division where former CM Shibu Soren and his party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha hold a strong connection with the locals,” a BJP member said.