Setting Stage To Counter Power Of Fake Narratives In India’s Democracy: Insights From Bhau Torsekar

This narrative war continues to evolve in Bharat, constantly adapting their strategies to sway public opinion. The power of words and ideas has never been more potent in democracies. As the battle for narratives wages on, the future of these democracies may hinge on which side proves more adept at capturing the minds—and votes—of the people

In the modern world, democracies are grappling with “Fake Narratives,” which have clouded critical political discourse and misled citizens, said Bhau Torsekar, a senior political reporter from Maharashtra state, while speaking at the Jaipur Dialogues 2024. It is important to note that the world’s largest democracy, India, is not immune to this, as witnessed in the last decade, especially in the 2024 elections.

According to Army veteran Maj Gen Rajiv Narayanan, AVSM, VSM (V), a Strategic Thinker on Defence & Geopolitics, there is this “LCM Kabal”—referring to Liberals, Communists, and Muslims—who are the key proponents of carefully crafted slanted narratives, frequently driven by a mix of ideological agendas and political motivations, to steer political discourse and ultimately sway electoral outcomes.

The Power of Fake Narratives in Shaping Election Discourse

In 2024, elections in Bharat saw nationalist leader Narendra Modi fighting not only against his political opponents but also against their misleading narratives. This issue of “Fake Narratives” was a major theme at the Jaipur Dialogues Summit 2024, where veteran Indian journalist and political commentator Bhau Torsekar discussed how narratives are manipulated to create confusion to undermine nationalist agendas and he offered solutions to counter it.

Bhau, a seasoned journalist from Maharashtra, known for his decades of experience in covering Indian politics, especially from a nationalist perspective, highlighted the subtle ways in which the “L.C.M. gang” manipulated narratives to serve their political agendas. He recalled how, during the 2019 Indian general elections, when the N.D.A. alliance led by Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.) secured 353 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha, opposition voices focused on the percentage of votes rather than seats to question B.J.P.’s legitimacy, arguing that Modi did not win the popular vote. Yet, in the 2024 elections, the opposition’s narrative shifted to focus solely on the number of seats, moving the goalposts of legitimacy as it suited their argument.

This constant shifting, the journalist noted, is a tactic used to keep the public off-balance. By changing the basis of criticism, the opposition effectively creates a narrative that adapts to deny any victory by the nationalist party, regardless of the results. As Bhau argued, the opposition’s strategy wasn’t merely a critique; it was the very essence of a fake narrative—designed to plant doubt in the minds of the voting public, especially undecided or swing voters.

Targeting Swing Voters with Strategic Narratives

In India, elections are often decided not by loyalists (voters) but by undecided or “middle ground” voters. Fake narratives, thus, are aimed at these swing voters who hold the balance of power in an election. Proponents of these Fake narratives aim to sway the outcome by strategically targeting this group. It is important to note that while committed voters—whether supporters of the NDA or INDI Alliances are unlikely to change allegiance; it is those caught in the middle ground who are vulnerable to manipulation through repeated exposure to negative, often misleading, information. According to Bhau, thus, it is crucial to understand and “probe” the mindset of “liberals” or middle-ground voters. If they resist such probing, the best strategy is to create “confusion” in their minds, as this will be the most effective approach.

Countering the Influence of Fake Narratives

How can one counter these misleading narratives? According to Bhau Torsekar, the best strategy for nationalist forces is to construct their own narratives with equally compelling language, vocabulary, and arguments. Engaging in logical rebuttals with those who do not believe in the narrative’s integrity is often ineffective; instead, one must focus on creating a counter-narrative that resonates with the public, particularly those undecided voters. By developing a language of their own that is accessible and appealing, nationalist groups can potentially neutralize the impact of misleading narratives.

Cultural and Demographic Shifts as Tools in Narrative Building

A critical point raised at the summit was the role of cultural and demographic changes in shaping narratives. The “LCM gang” is leveraging these shifts to challenge and gradually erode the traditional cultural values of Bharat. Illegal migrates- the Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are a strategy asset of the opposition to change local demographics and potentially impact the electoral landscape, also referred to as “VoteJihad.” Bhau argued that nationalist should set their own terms and narrative to counter those who promote “Fake Narratives.”

Winning the War of the Mind

The Jaipur Dialogues Summit underscored that the real battleground is the mind in the struggle against fake narratives. According to Bhau Torsekar, defeat or victory begins within the citizen’s mind. If the nationalist forces accept the opposition’s narrative unchallenged, they are already on the path to losing the battle. Hence, engaging in a proactive narrative-building approach, rather than merely reacting, is crucial for nationalist forces seeking to counter the influence of fake narratives.

This narrative war continues to evolve in Bharat, constantly adapting their strategies to sway public opinion. The power of words and ideas has never been more potent in democracies. As the battle for narratives wages on, the future of these democracies may hinge on which side proves more adept at capturing the minds—and votes—of the people.

(The author is Founder of My Startup TV)