Election Manifesto Slogans: It's people's discretion to choose the best

Dozens of pages, tons of clauses and thousands of words of election manifestos revealed by the political parties are mouth-watering for political critics to create storm in a teacup and to debate in television talk show. But the mass, who will determine the yesterday's legislatures blotching on secret ballot, whom those carrots are being hung for, are hardly snooping for the detail manifesto. They rather are being pondered by the one-sentence, the election slogan of the party that goes with their requirements of the impending days.

The 11th parliamentary election of the country is scheduled to be held on December 30. "An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry," is a George Eliot's saying on pre-election campaign. Nothing exceptional herein Bangladesh and all leading political parties of the country brought their pungent manifestos to light already.

The forthcoming election manifesto slogan of the ruling party Bangladesh Awami League is 'Bangladesh on road to Prosperity'. The another major political party of the land, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their alliance Jatiya Oikyafront  (JO) picked the article 7(1) of the constitution as their manifesto slogan and that is 'All powers in the Republic belong to the people.' HM Ershad led Jatiya Party focused on 'Good Governance and Development of the Nation' while "Vision-Liberation War 71" is the jingle of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).

The question is how far the slogans are rational and public oriented? Because, before casting the vote or determining own preference to be governed, electors seek for optimism and fresh approaches. Awami League came up with a great and unique idea of 'Digital Bangladesh' as the keynote of their election manifesto in 2008, having the formal title 'A Charter for Change'. BNP on the contrary, cited traditional political verse "Save the Country, Save the People." People grasped the uniqueness. Same as they took off the fresh BPN ideas of rural development, family planning and privatization in 1991 in the first post-Ershad era election.

The manifesto slogan washes people's 'brain' more than their 'eyes'. It can be termed as the 'magic bullet' of political agenda, if explained with the communication theory of Harold Lasswell. It is proven fact that people seek their sentiments like nationalism, priority to religious practices they believe in, individual and national securities etc. in their immediate next ruler's commitments.

Warren Harding, the 29th President of the United States said, 'I don't know much about Americanism, but it's a damn good word with which to carry an election'. Donald Trump utilized it better; he borrowed the concept of "Make America Great Again" during 2016 presidential election campaign from Ronald Reagan to beat Hillary Clinton with her "Stronger Together" watchword. Reagan's "Let's Make America Great Again" also won US popular sentiment in 1980. Indian citizen chosen Narendra Modi's 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' meaning "United India, Great India" in 2014 on the similar sentimental ground.

Now, what Bangladeshi folks will pick from the manifestos given by the parties ahead of the polls? Awami League's 'Bangladesh on road to Prosperity' also has another surname 'My Village My City' means a holistic coverage explaining long term agenda called 'Vision 2041'. The 'Vision 2041' aims at building 'Sonar Bangla', the ultimate national sentiment of Bangladesh people. There have two intermediary plans within 'Vision 2041' titled 'Progression to Mid-income Nation' and 'Development Junction' to be implemented by 2021 and 2030 respectively.

BNP's 'All powers in the Republic belong to the people' labeling manifesto is formed on the basis of their 'Vision 2030', which also has a lucrative heading to be pronounced "Plan for a Rainbow Nation." The slogan is unique to Bangladeshi people, of course. The plan pledges to good governance, balance of power, fight against terrorism and fanaticism alongside the freedom for the mass media. Their coalition Oikyafront emphasized on the national unity, modification of electoral system and social security issues.

Jatiya Party's 18-point manifesto on 'Good Governance and Development of the Nation' vows administrative decentralization, specially introduction of the provincial government system and reforms to Election Commission. CPB in their 30-point manifesto highlighted equity and justice next to the four fundamental principles of the constitution. Bangladesh thus, not so far from being a Wonder-land.

Another significant aspect is the homophone of the slogans with previous edition manifestos. BNP's "Save the Country, Save the People" of 2008 and "All powers in the Republic belong to the people" for upcoming polls, sound homogeneous. Awami League ascended throne twice in a row and marching for the third consecutive period. They fated in the ballot revolt of 2008 since people ravened 'A Charter for Change' chant. The party in power continues the previous agenda with "Marching Ahead Bangladesh: Road to Peace, Democratic Development and Prosperity" slogan for the 10th Parliamentary Election in 2014. Thus, 'Bangladesh on road to Prosperity' is the farsighted disguise of the previous twin election slogans.

The most possible reason of such homographs in the culture of adult franchise basis voting practice is to fuel the flame of the popular sentiment that clicked immediate before. US president Donald Trump also unveiled the slogan for his 2020's campaign titled "Trump 2020" and the slogan is "Keep America Great!" It means, he already has made America great and urged his countrymen to elect him for put aside the greatness.

 "To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them," the Aristophanes maxim is very true in the First Past the Post (FPTP) democracy since solitary casting is enough to determine the representative of a specific constituency here. In the dipolar politics of Bangladesh, it is now the matter to see whether people are going to walk through the Road to Prosperity or they will be appetite with Rainbow Nation dream on December 30.

The author is a researcher and Sports Reporter, The Daily Observer