The ongoing Lok Sabha election season is no different. Let's take a look at the key political slogans that have defined Indian elections over the past sixty years.
1- Abki Baar 400 Pairs- 2024
For the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), seeking a record third term, has set a target of winning 400 seats. The target for the BJP alone is 370 seats. The ruling alliance is being challenged by the opposition parties led by Congress under the banner of INDIA bloc.
In the 77-year history of Independent India, only once has a party or coalition won more than 400 seats. The Congress, led by Rajiv Gandhi, won 404 of the 514 Lok Sabha seats in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections. The 1984 Lok Sabha elections were held after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi's mother and former Prime Minister, the late Indira Gandhi.
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Whether the BJP-led NDA led by Prime Minister Modi will break that record will become clear after the June 4 results. The opposition Congress Party has unveiled the slogan 'Haath Badlega Haalat (Hand will mark the change)' ahead of the 2024 elections. Palm, or hand, is the Congress Party's election symbol.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP campaigned for re-election with the slogan 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar' (Modi government again). The BJP won the elections and Narendra Modi became Prime Minister for the second time.
2- Pain Din Aane Waale Hain – 2014
The BJP campaigned against the incumbent Congress-led UPA government in 2014 with the famous slogan 'Achhe Din Aane Waale Hain' (good days are coming). The slogan worked for the party and the BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre.
3- Congress Ka Haath, Aam Aadmi Ke Saath – 2004
The Congress Party won the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. The party had campaigned with the slogan 'Congres ka haarah, aam admi ke saath' (Congress Party's hand with the common man). The slogan resonated with voters who elected the Congress-led UPA government, with Manmohan Singh as prime minister.
In 2009, the Congress Party's slogan was 'Aam Aadmi ke Badhte Kadam, Har Kadam Par Bharat Buland' (Congress government has seen the progress of the common man and taken India to the top). The slogan worked for the Congress Party, and the UPA retained the government at the Center with Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister of the Congress-led UPA government for a second term.
4– India Shines – 2004
The BJP-led NDA under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee contested the 2004 elections with the marketing slogan 'India Shinning'. The slogan referred to the general sense of economic optimism in India in 2004. The campaign did not work for the NDA, which lost the elections. The Congress won the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani once described the campaign as 'valid' but 'inappropriate'.
5- Bari Bari Sabki Bari, Abki Bari Atal Bihari – 1996
The BJP fought the Lok Sabha elections in 1996 with the popular slogan 'Bari Bari Sabki Bari, Abki Bari Atal Bihari' (now it is the turn of Atal Bihari Vajpayee). The slogan led to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 13-day rule from May 16 to June 1, 1996. Vajpayee served as Prime Minister of India for two more incomplete terms: from March 19, 1998 to April 29, 1999, and from October 3, 1999 to 10 May 2004.
6- Raja Nahi Faqir Hai, Desh Ki Taqdeer Hai – 1989
In 1989, VP Singh resigned from the Union Cabinet as Defense Minister in the Rajiv Gandhi-led government, amid controversies and allegations of commission in defense deals.
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In the subsequent elections, there was a popular slogan: 'Raja Nahi Faqir Hai, Desh Ki Taqdeer Hai.' (He is not a king, he is poor and the fate of the nation). VP Singh, who became the Raja Bahadur of Manda in Allahabad, eventually became Prime Minister of India in 1989.
7- Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Indira Tera Naam Rahega – 1984
After the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Congress fought the 1984 Lok Sabha elections under the slogan 'Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Indira Tera Naam Rahega' (Indira Gandhi will be remembered till the sun and the moon are). There followed a wave of sympathy in favor of the Congress Party, which secured 404 of the 514 Lok Sabha seats.
8- Indira Hatao Desh Bachao – 1977
The slogan 'Indira Hatao Desh Bachao' (Defeat Indira and Save Land), coined by socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan for the opposition parties after the Emergency, resulted in opposition parties under the umbrella of the Janata Party defeating the Congress Party at the Lok Sabha 1977 elections.
9- Garibi Hatao- 1971
The slogan 'Garibi Hathao' (eradicate poverty), coined by Indira Gandhi, resonated in the country and led the Congress Party to a landslide victory in 1971.
10- Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan – 1965
India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' (Hail the farmer, hail the soldier) at a public meeting in Uruwa, Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. The idea behind the slogan was to enthuse the soldiers to defend the country and encourage the farmers to do their best to increase production of food grains and reduce dependence on imports. In 1967, the Congress returned to power.
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In 1998, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee changed the slogan to Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan (Hail the Farmer, Hail the Soldier, Hail Science) after the Pokhran nuclear tests.
Other slogans
Apart from the above, political parties have used other popular slogans that political parties have used.
In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party's 'Vikas ki chabhi, Dimple bhabhi' and 'Vikas ka pahiya, Akhilesh bhaiyya' and BSP's 'Betiyon Ko Muskurane Do, Behenji ko aaney do' were famous slogans.
Other catchy slogans included 'Ache beete 5 saal, lagen raho Kejriwal' by Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party and 'Maa, Maati, Manush' (Mother, Motherland and People) by TMC in 2011.
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Published: Apr 23, 2024 2:41 PM IST