On Wednesday morning, people in Delhi woke up to a rather unfamiliar face splashed across the national editions of English newspapers. It was Pinarayi Vijayan announcing he is the next CM of Kerala, in an ad replete with the “God’s own country” cliché and the trademark Communist deep-red.
Almost all the major newspapers, including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, Economic Times and The Indian Express carried full front-page advertisements of Pinarayi Vijayan publicising his swearing-in ceremony.
The ad tagline said, “Committed to turn Kerala in to a truly god’s own country.”
Though the Kerala editions of these newspapers did not carry this advertisement, television advertisements proclaiming his victory and publicising his swearing-in ceremony have been appearing for the past few days.
Leftist Party Indulging in Capitalist Ways?
Intense criticism has risen against the party for wasting money on these extremely unnecessary and extravagantly expensive ads.
People took to social media to speak their minds about the issue.
The poor grammar usage in the ad cracked many readers up. These tweets encapsulate what a lot of people probably felt about the odd ad.
Since When Does the Left Believe in God?
“God’s own country” is a tagline that has been associated with Kerala for decades now and government after government has used it.
Perhaps, it’s time for it to be retired, because this is India and there are people just looking for an excuse to be offended. After all doesn’t the Left lean towards atheism?
Following Jayalalithaa’s Footsteps
This is not the first time a politico from down south has flooded newspapers with ads.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa celebrated her government’s success, earlier this year, with page long adverts explaining the various schemes under which she gave away free mixies, grinders and electric fans laptops.
Even before his term as Chief Minister has begun, Pinarayi Vijayan seems to be swerving the wrong way.
But as he said to the press before his swearing in ceremony, we will have to “wait and watch” if the Left can fulfil the multiple promises it made in its extensive campaign.
(With inputs from The News Minute.)
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