Even as Gorakhpur and Phulpur by-poll results send a strong signal to BJP, the demand for BSP and SP alliance in 2019 general elections has found more credence. However, two prominent media personalities have been drumming up support for this strategy in media. They are none other that Rajdeep Sardesai and Sagarika Ghose.
Rajdeep Sardesai said that the ‘arithmetic’ was in favour of SP-BSP combine as the parties had 20-25% core vote share on their own. The alliance could easily defeat BJP he suggested. ‘The big headline then, ‘SP-BJP’ combine is the only way to stop Narendra Modi juggernaut for the opposition in UP as of now if these leads remain,’ Rajdeep said. Defeating the alliance would need an unusual amount of chemistry, he claimed.
Why is #UttarPradeshbypoll a big test for UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
Watch the full debate https://t.co/WIs5P6Hqx3#ITVideo pic.twitter.com/lVP2xDQ9mL— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 14, 2018
On the other hand, Sagarika Ghose was suggesting that Congress should stop being a vote cutter in the elections by fielding candidates in constituencies where regional parties had a better chance.
Very recently, the duo had been preaching about political neutrality in journalism when Kumar Ketkar was offered a Rajya Sabha seat by the Congress. Sagarika had said that compromising independence was the worst thing scribes could do to themselves.
Rajdeep had written the following words in a recent article.
It is my unshaken belief that a professional independent journalist must ideally remain just that: an observer and chronicler with strong views but not a player or participant in the tricky game of politics. If you want to join politics, please do so, but quit journalism first.
However, they have now come out in the open and suggested the way ahead for the opposition as far as stopping the ‘BJP juggernaut’ is concerned. BJP’s victory streak has forced many masks of neutrality to slip with ‘journalists’ openly betting for one party or the other, and especially the Congress party. “Neutral Journalists” have openly supported “forces” that may possibly stop the BJP from winning. It is thus hilarious to watch the same elements pontificate about journalistic integrity, neutrality and ethics when the spotlight is on someone else.
